Objective: A pilot study to determine the effectiveness of a combination of transcranial pulsed current stimulation and pulsed current peripheral nerve stimulation as a novel therapeutic approach for Ataxia patients.

Background: Gait dysfunction is a disabling issue that remains to be unresolved in movement disorder patients such as cerebellar ataxia. Neuromodulation of the excitability of the cerebello-thalamo-corticol pathway by acting on the cerebellar cortex to restore the CBI has been suggested to be a suitable therapeutic intervention. Many studies have been done with various neuromodulation modals but this is the first to evaluate the effects of a combination therapy in ataxia patients.

Method: An open label study with a novel combination treatment of tPCS and pulsed current peripheral stimulation in 3 patients with neurodegenerative ataxia was conducted in Singapore. Each patient underwent clinical evaluations (motor, non-motor and cognitive assessments) before and after the treatment. Follow up evaluations were also conducted to determine the long term effects of the treatment at 1-month and 2-months post treatment. Treatment consisted of 30 minutes of concurrent tPCS and pulsed current peripheral stimulation for 20 sessions.

Results: Combination tPCS and pulsed current peripheral nerve stimulation showed a significant improvement in their motor scores (SARA, p<0.05 and Berg Balance scale, p<0.05) and effects lasted up to 2-months post treatment. No significant changes were observed in their fine motor assessment (Purdue Peg Board, p>0.05) and gait assessment (7m Timed Up and Go, p>0.05). Immediately after treatment, patients also showed a significant improvement in their overall emotional state (Depression Anxiety and Stress scale, p<0.05). Quality of life showed no significant changes (SF-36v2, p>0.05) but patients showed improvements in different areas such as physical functioning, bodily pain, social functioning, role-emotional and mental health. Cognitive function of patients also remained relatively the same after treatment.

Conclusion: We demonstrated that a combination treatment of tPCS and pulsed current peripheral nerve stimulation is safe and improved mobility and balance in ataxia patients, with some effects lasting up to 2 months after treatment. The stimulation also led to an improvement of patient’s mood and their daily life. Future studies will be needed to assess its long term efficacy.

« Back to 2023 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/effectiveness-of-non-invasive-therapy-of-tpcs-peripheral-nerve-stimulation-on-ataxia-patients/