Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome

Abstract

Scientific BACKGROUND: For the last two decades the traditional role of cerebellum that is dedicated exclusively to motor control and coordination has been evolved as recent findings demonstrate its contribution to cognitive processing and emotional regulation. There is a growing body of evidence of the impact of cerebellar lesions on emotional and cognitive, especially fronto-executive functions.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed in this article to mention contribution of the cerebellum to cognitive and behavioral processes.

CASE: We report a 46 years old patient with an acute onset and permanent frontal-executive disturbance, psychomotor slowing, emotional instability and forgetfulness following a head trauma. Cranial MRI revealed extensive left cerebellar hemispheric lesions. Deficits of attention, executive function, affect and memory suggest a "cerebellar cognitive affective syndrome"

CONCLUSION: Clinical findings of this case are consistent with the role of the cerebellum as a modulator of mental functions. The cognitive deficits resulting from cerebellar pathology may be related to the disruption of cerebello-cortical connections involving a complex network which includes the prefrontal region, suggesting that the cerebellum may process cortical information coming from different brain areas linked with the control of cognition.