Brain pacemaker trial offers new hope for unsteady gait

This small pilot study tests whether implanting electrodes in the cerebellum—a brain area that controls coordination—can safely improve walking and balance in people with severe ataxia that hasn't responded to other treatments. Twelve adults aged 20 to 70 with primary ataxia will receive deep brain stimulation (DBS) and be followed for one year. The main goal is to check safety, but researchers will also measure changes in coordination and gait.