Cerebellar Disorders

During the last three decades, many laboratories worldwide have dedicated their research activities to understanding the roles of the cerebellum in motor control, cognitive processes and the biology of mental processes, behavioral symptoms and emotion. These advances have been associated with discoveries of new clinical disorders, in particular in the field of genetic ataxias, and the growing number of diseases presents a source of difficulty for clinicians during daily practice. This practical guide summarizes and evaluates current knowledge in the field of cerebellar disorders. Encompassing details of both common and uncommon cerebellar ataxias, including vascular, immune, neoplastic, infectious, traumatic, toxic and inherited disorders, this book will assist clinicians in the diagnosis and management of the full spectrum of cerebellar ataxias encountered in daily practice. Essential reading for clinicians, including general practitioners, neurologists, pediatricians, radiologists, psychiatrists and neuropsychologists, this will also prove a valuable tool for students, trainees and researchers.

Essentials of the Cerebellum and Cerebellar Disorders is the first book of its kind written specifically for graduate students and clinicians. It is based on the 4-volume treatise, Handbook of the Cerebellum and Cerebellar Disorders (Springer, 2013), the definitive reference for scientists and neurologists in the field of cerebellar neurobiology. There have been fundamental advances in the basic science and clinical neurology of the cerebellum and its role in sensorimotor function and cognition. This monograph makes this large and expanding body of knowledge readily accessible to trainees and clinicians alike. The editors are world leaders in the field, and the chapters are authored by an international panel of experts drawn from ataxia clinics and cerebellar laboratories throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Essentials provides a solid grounding in the field of cerebellar research and ataxiology from cerebellar circuity to clinical practice, and it serves as a springboard to a deeper appreciation of both the principles and the complexities of cerebellar neurobiology. Clinicians are expected to have a deep appreciation of cerebellar disorders, not only in specialized ataxia clinics but also in adult and pediatric neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry and neuropsychology practices, and in outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation settings. This book is an indispensable resource for students and practitioners navigating the evolving field of cerebellar motor and cognitive neurology. It also links to the more expansive Handbook for those who need to explore the topics in this monograph in greater depth.

Clinics in Developmental Medicine No. 191-192 This clinically orientated text by an international group of experts is the first definitive reference book on disorders of the cerebellum in children. It presents a wealth of practical clinical experience backed up by a strong scientific basis for the information and guidance given. The first part sets out the theoretical underpinnings of cerebellar disorders. This is followed by sections on clinical conditions grouped according to common characteristics such as aetiology and symptomatology. The descriptions of the clinical conditions each systematically cover, as appropriate, epidemiology, prevalence, diagnostic criteria, clinical features (including course and prognosis), pathophysiology, genetics, investigations, differential diagnosis, and management and treatment. This book will be an invaluable resource for all those caring for children affected by cerebellar disorders, including malformations, genetic and metabolic disorders, acquired cerebellar damage, vascular disorders and acute ataxias. This comprehensive reference text on cerebellar disorders in children includes chapters on cerebellar development, prenatal cerebellar imaging, imaging of the posterior fossa, with coverage of a broad range of malformations, genetic and metabolic disorders involving the cerebellum, prenatal cerebellar disruptions (as related to prematurity), vascular disorders, tumors and paraneoplastic syndromes, as well as acute ataxia and trauma to the posterior fossa. Numerous checklists are provided to assist in the differential diagnosis of clinical signs and neuroimaging findings. Readership: Paediatric neurologists, paediatricians, neurologists, developmental paediatricians, neuroimaging specialists, geneticists, neonatologists

The Cerebellum: Disorders and Treatment, Volume 155 updates readers on the latest and clinically relevant advances in the study of cerebellar diseases in children and adults. It is organized into sections detailing: (1) Disorders (starting from the fetal cerebellum, to adult cerebellum) encountered during daily practice, and (2) Therapy (including insights into innovative drug and rehabilitative approaches). The book's innovative structure discusses cerebellar disorders in children and adults as a continuum, with its companion volume, The Cerebellum: From Embryology to Diagnostic Investigations detailing embryology, anatomy, function and diagnostic investigations and neuroimaging, including conventional sequences, diffusion tensor imaging, functional MRI, and connectivity studies. Provides an in-depth understanding of the cerebellum and its involvement in a wide variety of diseases Explores long-term outcome data of pediatric cerebellar diseases and potential problems in adult life for patients with pediatric cerebellar diseases Features chapters co-authored by two experts, combining expertise in both pediatric and adult cerebellar diseases

The authors present the most current and cutting-edge knowledge regarding the molecular basis of cerebellar development, focusing on information relevant to laboratory scientists and clinicians providing service to patients with cerebellar disorders. Knowledge obtained from advanced neuroimaging techniques that are used during development, and from molecular- and genetic-based studies has provided rapidly-growing evidence that the cerebellum is a brain region that is highly impacted by developmental defects. Cerebellar defects result in significant intellectual and motor function impairment that affects both the patients and their families.

Our knowledge of cerebellar functions and cerebellar disorders, called ataxias, is increasing considerably. Studies of the cerebellum are now a central focus in neuroscience. During the last four decades, many laboratories worldwide have dedicated their research activities to understanding the roles of the cerebellum in motor control, cognitive processes and biology of mental processes, behavioral symptoms, and emotion. It is now accepted that the cerebellum acts as a cognitive operator in learning, perception, and attention. Moreover, major improvements in our assessment of in vivo cerebellar architecture using imaging techniques have occurred. A typical example is the accurate description of cerebellar anatomy during fetal development with MRI, a progress which has direct impacts on patient care. These advances have been associated with discoveries of new clinical disorders, in particular in the field of genetic ataxias. More than 20 new genes have been identified these last 10 years. Only for dominant ataxias, more than 30 diseases have now been unravelled. The number of ataxic disorders will increase with aging, the cerebellum being the structure of the brain with the most important loss of neurons with age. More than 300 different cerebellar disorders are encountered during daily practice, but we are missing a single source of information explaining their pathogenesis. Despite the immense amount of knowledge acquired about the cerebellar circuitry these last years, a large book covering the neuroscience of the cerebellum is missing. The goal of this endeavour is to bring up to date information relevant for basic science and also for clinical activities. To reach this goal, the most renowned authors are gathered in a unique and in-depth book with a format of a handbook. We emphasize the connections between molecular findings, imaging features, behavioural/neuropsychological aspects, and clinical implications.

The first comprehensive text on the cerebellum and its disorders for many years.

This monograph, now in its 2nd edition with 31 new chapters and significant updates, is the first book of its kind written specifically for graduate students and clinicians. The monograph is based on the 4-volume treatise, Handbook of the Cerebellum and Cerebellar Disorders (Springer, 2013; 2nd edition: 2022), the definitive reference for scientists and neurologists in the field of cerebellar neurobiology and related areas. There have been fundamental advances in the basic science and clinical neurology of the cerebellum and its role in sensorimotor function and cognition. Essentials of the Cerebellum and Cerebellar Disorders makes this large and expanding body of knowledge readily accessible to trainees and clinicians alike. It is organized into easy to read and short chapters that are ideal for students and clinicians. The most common cerebellar disorders encountered in the clinic are covered. The editors are world leaders in the field, and the chapters are authored by an international panel of experts drawn from cerebellar laboratories and ataxia clinics throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Essentials provides a solid grounding in the field of cerebellar research and ataxiology from cerebellar cellular biology and circuity to clinical practice, and it serves as a springboard to a deeper appreciation of both the principles and the complexities of cerebellar neurobiology. Clinicians are expected to have a deep appreciation of cerebellar disorders, not only in specialized ataxia clinics but also in adult and pediatric neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry and neuropsychology practices, and in outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation settings. This book is an indispensable resource for students and practitioners navigating the evolving field of cerebellar motor and cognitive neurology. It also links to the more expansive Handbook for those who need to explore the topics in this monograph in greater depth.