Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria (Aug 2021)

Use of non-invasive stimulation in movement disorders: a critical review

  • Clecio Godeiro,
  • Carina França,
  • Rafael Bernhart Carra,
  • Felipe Saba,
  • Roberta Saba,
  • Débora Maia,
  • Pedro Brandão,
  • Nasser Allam,
  • Carlos R. M. Rieder,
  • Fernando Cini Freitas,
  • Tamine Capato,
  • Mariana Spitz,
  • Danilo Donizete de Faria,
  • Marcela Cordellini,
  • Beatriz A. A. G. Veiga,
  • Maria Sheila G. Rocha,
  • Ricardo Maciel,
  • Lucio B. De Melo,
  • Patricia D. S. Möller,
  • Magno R. R. Júnior,
  • Luís H. T. Fornari,
  • Carlos E. Mantese,
  • Egberto Reis Barbosa,
  • Renato P. Munhoz,
  • Marcus Vinicius Della Coletta,
  • Rubens Gisbert Cury

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0004-282x-anp-2020-0381
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 79, no. 7
pp. 630 – 646

Abstract

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Abstract Background: Noninvasive stimulation has been widely used in the past 30 years to study and treat a large number of neurological diseases, including movement disorders. Objective: In this critical review, we illustrate the rationale for use of these techniques in movement disorders and summarize the best medical evidence based on the main clinical trials performed to date. Methods: A nationally representative group of experts performed a comprehensive review of the literature in order to analyze the key clinical decision-making factors driving transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in movement disorders. Classes of evidence and recommendations were described for each disease. Results: Despite unavoidable heterogeneities and low effect size, TMS is likely to be effective for treating motor symptoms and depression in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The efficacy in other movement disorders is unclear. TMS is possibly effective for focal hand dystonia, essential tremor and cerebellar ataxia. Additionally, it is likely to be ineffective in reducing tics in Tourette syndrome. Lastly, tDCS is likely to be effective in improving gait in PD. Conclusions: There is encouraging evidence for the use of noninvasive stimulation on a subset of symptoms in selected movement disorders, although the means to optimize protocols for improving positive outcomes in routine clinical practice remain undetermined. Similarly, the best stimulation paradigms and responder profile need to be investigated in large clinical trials with established therapeutic and assessment paradigms that could also allow genuine long-term benefits to be determined.

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