%0 Journal Article %T Effects of cerebellar repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation plus physiotherapy in spinocerebellar ataxias - A randomized clinical trial. %A Grobe-Einsler M %A Bork F %A Faikus A %A Hurlemann R %A Kaut O %J CNS Neurosci Ther %V 30 %N 6 %D 2024 Jun %M 38887169 %F 7.035 %R 10.1111/cns.14797 %X BACKGROUND: In absence of drug therapy options, standard treatment for spinocerebellar ataxia consists of symptomatic physiotherapy and speech therapy. New therapeutic options are urgently needed. Transcranial magnetic stimulation is a promising therapeutic option, but applicability is limited by lengthy duration of stimulation protocols.
METHODS: In this randomized sham controlled clinical trial, patients were assigned to verum (n = 15) or sham (n = 18) cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation. To yield best possible treatment effects, both intervention groups received intensified physiotherapy for the duration of the study.
RESULTS: Ataxia severity was reduced by 1.6 points on the Scale for assessment and Rating of Ataxia among patients in the verum group (p < 0.001). Clinical improvement was significantly larger in the verum group, compared to the sham group (p < 0.01). The treatment effect was mainly carried by improved appendicular coordination. Patients in the verum group also significantly improved in the 8 Meter Walk Test (p < 0.05) and PATA rate (p < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Cerebellar rTMS ameliorates ataxia severity in patient with spinocerebellar ataxia. Condensing treatment duration to only 5 days without reduction of treatment effects facilitates applicability and therefore broadens availability to larger patient populations.