Effects of Low-Frequency Deep Brain Stimulation in Bilateral Zona Incerta for a Patient With Tremor and Cerebellar Ataxia. uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • BACKGROUND: Whether low-frequency deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the caudal zona incerta (cZi) can improve cerebellar ataxia symptoms remains unexplored. CASE REPORT: We report a 66-year-old man initially diagnosed with essential tremor and subsequently developed cerebellar ataxia after bilateral cZi DBS implantation. We tested the effects of low-frequency DBS stimulations (sham, 10 Hz, 15 Hz, 30 Hz) on ataxia severity. DISCUSSION: Low-frequency cZi DBS improves ataxic speech at 30 Hz, but not at 10 Hz or 15 Hz in this patient. Low-frequency DBS did not improve gait or stance. Therefore, low-frequency stimulation may play a role in treating ataxic speech. HIGHLIGHTS: The finding of this case study suggests that bilateral low-frequency DBS at 30 Hz in the caudal zona incerta has the potential to improve ataxic speech but has limited impact on gait and stance. The involvement of zona incerta in speech warrants further investigation.

publication date

  • August 21, 2024

Research

keywords

  • Cerebellar Ataxia
  • Deep Brain Stimulation
  • Essential Tremor
  • Zona Incerta

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC11342832

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 85202267004

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.5334/tohm.925

PubMed ID

  • 39184972

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 14