From the Research
Essential Tremor Characteristics
- Essential tremor (ET) is characterized by a bilateral, largely symmetric postural or kinetic tremor involving hands and forearms 1
- ET can also be classified with both motor and non-motor elements, including tremor in the legs, feet, trunk, jaw, chin, tongue, and voice 1
- Intentional tremor and tremor at rest may also occur in some patients with ET 1, 2, 3
Postural and Intention Tremors
- Postural tremor is a common feature of ET, present in 36% of patients in one study 4
- Intention tremor is also present in some patients with ET, approximately 28% in one study 5
- The presence of intention tremor is more common in ET than in Parkinson's disease (PD) 5
Tremor Classification
- ET can be classified into different types, including postural, kinetic, intention, and rest tremors 2, 3
- The classification of ET is evolving, with some studies suggesting that it may be a heterogeneous disorder or a family of diseases 1, 2
- The diagnosis of ET is established on the basis of the clinical picture, which can be variable and insufficiently defined 4