Transcranial direct current stimulation of the cerebellum may have significant benefits for some children with ASD

A new study indicates that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the cerebellum may significantly benefit some individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). 

The open-label pilot study, conducted by Giordano D’Urso and colleagues, involved seven children with ASD, all between 9 and 13 years of age, who underwent 20 daily sessions of tDCS applied to the right cerebellar lobe of the brain. tDCS involves the application of a weak electrical current to a specific area of the brain—in this case, the cerebellum—via one or more electrodes placed on the scalp. 

“At the end of the treatment,” the researchers say, “the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) scores showed a 25% mean reduction in global severity of symptoms, with a more pronounced reduction in the ‘social withdrawal and lethargy’ (−35%), ‘hyperactivity and noncompliance’ (−26%), and ‘irritability, agitation, and crying’ (−25%) subscales.” In addition, parents reported significant improvements in their children’s sleep. Little improvement was seen in stereotypic behaviors and none in inappropriate speech, and no significant improvements were seen in two children who were taking psychotropic drugs. 

The researchers say the intervention appeared to markedly reduce the severity of tics in one child with a comorbid tic disorder, and to lead to the disappearance of a frontal epileptogenic focus in another child with a history of seizures. They add that it was generally accepted by patients and well tolerated, with no serious adverse events seen. 

The researchers conclude that “cerebellar tDCS is safe, feasible, and potentially effective in the treatment of ASD symptoms among children.” However, they note that their study had a small sample size, an open-label design, and a short-term follow-up, and that their findings need to be confirmed by larger studies. 

Citations

“Cerebellar transcranial direct current stimulation in children with autism spectrum disorder: a pilot study on efficacy, feasibility, safety, and unexpected outcomes in tic disorder and epilepsy,” Giordano D’Urso, Elena Toscano, Veronica Sanges, Anne Sauvaget, Christine E. Sheffer, Maria Pia Riccio, Roberta Ferrucci, Felice Iasevoli, Alberto Priori, Carmela Bravaccio, and Andrea de Bartolomeis, Journal of Clinical Medicine, January 2022 (free online). Address: Giordano D’Urso, [email protected].