The Impact of Compulsivity and Impulsivity in Cerebellar Ataxia: A Case Series

Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y). 2020 Oct 16:10:43. doi: 10.5334/tohm.550.

Abstract

Background: The cerebellum has recently been identified to have a key role in reward processing, and individuals with ataxia have been found to be more impulsive and compulsive as part of cerebellum-related cognitive and behavioral disturbances.

Case report: We reported five individuals with cerebellar ataxia who demonstrate impulsive and compulsive behaviors, including hobbyism, gambling, and compulsive medication use, to illustrate that these symptoms can be highly disabling.

Discussion: These five cases provide examples of behavioral symptoms in cerebellar ataxia. Further investigations of the pathomechanism of these symptoms will advance our understanding of the cerebellum in cognition and behavior.

Keywords: cerebellar ataxia; cerebellum; compulsivity; impulsivity; reward.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Compulsive Behavior / psychology*
  • Compulsive Exercise / psychology*
  • Female
  • Gambling / psychology*
  • Hoarding / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Impulsive Behavior*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple System Atrophy / physiopathology
  • Multiple System Atrophy / psychology*
  • Spinocerebellar Ataxias / physiopathology
  • Spinocerebellar Ataxias / psychology*
  • Video Games

Grants and funding

Dr. Kuo has received funding from the National Institutes of Health: NINDS #R01 NS104423 (principal investigator), NINDS #R01 NS118179 (principal investigator), NINDS #R03 NS114871 (principal investigator), Brain Research Foundation, National Ataxia Foundation, Parkinson’s Foundation, and International Essential Tremor Foundation.