Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Spinocerebellar Ataxia 38

Comparison of Two Therapeutic Approaches of Cerebellar Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in a Sardinian Family Affected by Spinocerebellar Ataxia 38: a Clinical and Computerized 3D Gait Analysis Study.

Spinocerebellar ataxia 38 (SCA 38) is a very rare autosomal dominant inherited disorder caused by a mutation in ELOV5 gene, specifically expressed in cerebellar Purkinje cells, encoding an enzyme involved in the synthesis of fatty acids. The present study aimed to assess the effect of cerebellar anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) administered employing deltoid (CD-tDCS) and spinal (CS-tDCS) cathodal montage. Clinical evaluation was performed at baseline (T0), after 15 sessions of tDCS (T1) and after one month of follow-up (T2).

Inclusion Criteria:

1. age ≤ 80 and > 18 years
2. diagnosis of SCA 38 with the presence of clinical symptoms.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Inability to understand and sign the informed consent
2. Presence of other severe neurological disorders
3. presence of significant medical or psychiatric illnesses
4. Pregnancy.