%0 Case Reports
%T Efficacy of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in a family with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3: A case report.
%A Hu Z
%A Tao X
%A Huang Z
%A Xie K
%A Zhu S
%A Weng X
%A Lin D
%A Zhang Y
%A Wang L
%J Heliyon
%V 9
%N 5
%D 2023 May
%M 37215811
%F 3.776
%R 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16190
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a common autosomal dominant hereditary ataxia, which is caused by a cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeat expansion on the causative gene ATXN3, usually with lower extremity ataxia as the first symptom, and effective treatment is scarce. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive technique that regulates the cerebellum and the neural network connected to it.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Herein, we report familial cases of SCA3 in two nephews and their aunt, each of whom was treated with high-frequency (5 Hz) rTMS. The rTMS treatment lasted 2 weeks, once daily for 5 consecutive days a week, about 20 minutes each session. The Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA), the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS), and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) examination were evaluated before and after rTMS treatment.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>We found that the ICARS scores improved significantly (p = 0.04), and the NAA/Cr values were elevated in vermis and both cerebellar hemispheres after rTMS treatment.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Our study suggested that high-frequency rTMS therapy can contribute to the improvement of cerebellar NAA/Cr value of SCA3 patients, and improve posture and gait as well as limb kinetic function in SCA3 patients.