Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3
Conditions
Interventions
Patients will be randomized to either real or sham cerebellar tDCS, an
increasingly used, short, cheap, and non-invasive tool that modulates
cerebellar excitability using a pair of electrodes.
Sponsors
Radboud Universitair Medisch Centrum
Eligibility
Age
18 Years to 99 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: * A proven SCA3 mutation (ATXN3 gene). * Age * 16 years. * SARA score * 20 (on a scale of 0 to 40).
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: * Contra-indications for tDCS, i.e. metallic implants near the electrodes or the presence of unstable medical conditions or any illness that may increase the risk of stimulation, e.g. epilepsy or eczema under the electrodes. * Significant comorbidities that interfere with activities of daily life. * Co-morbid neurological conditions. * Use of neurotropic medication.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The primary outcome measure is the absolute change on the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA). | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary outcome measures include SCA Functional Index (motor performance), Inventory of Non-Ataxia Signs count (extracerebellar involvement), EQ-5d (quality of life), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (depression), short version of the POMS (mood states), Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome scale (specifically cerebellar cognitive functions), Activities of Daily Living, amount of medical consumption, percentage and timing of conditioned responses using a delay eyeblink classical conditioning (EBCC) paradigm (motor learning), and cerebellar brain inhibition using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). | — |
Countries
Netherlands
Outcome results
None listed