Impact of Right Cerebellar Theta Burst Stimulation on Poststroke Aphasia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), continuous TBS (cTBS), and sham stimulation of the right cerebellum on language function, cognitive function, and quality of life in patients with poststroke aphasia.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

A University-Affiliated Hospital in China.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty patients (N=60) with poststroke aphasia were randomly assigned to 3 groups: iTBS (n=20), cTBS (n=20), and sham stimulation (n=20).

INTERVENTIONS: Each patient received personalized speech training right after stimulation, 5 days a week, for 2 weeks. The iTBS, cTBS, and sham stimulation were applied to the right cerebellum.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Treatment effects were evaluated using the Chinese versions of the Western Aphasia Battery for language function, the non-language-based cognitive assessment for cognitive function, and the Stroke Aphasia Quality of Life Scale for quality of life.

RESULTS

Analysis of variance revealed a significant interaction between time and group (P<.001). Post hoc comparisons indicated that the cTBS group outperformed the iTBS and sham groups in language function, cognitive function, and quality of life scores posttreatment (P<.05). No significant differences were found between the iTBS and sham groups (P>.05).

CONCLUSIONS

cTBS stimulation of the right cerebellum significantly enhanced language cognitive function and quality of life in patients with aphasia, suggesting it as a promising target for neuromodulation treatment and offering new hope for rehabilitation strategies.