Introduction
Tremor in itself is not a disease but a neurological symptom that can best be translated as “tremor”. The causes of tremor range from harmless things like excitement (so-called physiological tremor) to medication and severe movement disorders such as Parkinson’s tremor. One particular tremor is essential tremor, a movement disorder with a hitherto unexplained cause. This is a so-called action tremor, which occurs mainly during everyday activities such as pouring water or eating and can have a massive impact on those affected, depending on its severity. Even if the underlying mechanisms are not yet sufficiently understood, there are promising therapeutic approaches.
Is essential tremor curable?
To date, it is known that essential tremor is a familial condition and is usually caused by certain mutations. However, the exact mechanisms that lead to the disease are still not sufficiently understood, so that a targeted therapy is not possible. Essential tremor is therefore not curable.
However, there are some therapeutic approaches that can provide good relief from tremor. First of all, it should be determined whether essential tremor really exists. Characteristics are an action tremor, i.e. tremor during activities such as drinking water, mostly tremor of the hands and head, occasionally also a so-called voice tremor, family tremor, increase in tremor during stress or psychological strain, often an improvement under alcohol is observed (which is of course not an invitation to drink alcohol!).
These include first and foremost thyroxine, lithium, cortisone and valproate. Caffeine can also cause tremors, in which case caffeinated drinks should of course be reduced. Once the essential tremor has been diagnosed, the degree of impairment is important.
If there is no or only a moderate impairment in everyday life, often no therapy is necessary. Otherwise medication can help, in severe cases the surgical implantation of a “brain pacemaker” may be necessary.
- An action tremor, i.e. a tremor in activities such as limiting water
- Mostly tremor of the hands and head, occasionally also a so-called voice tremor
- Familial accumulation
- Increase of tremor during stress or psychological strain
- Often an improvement under alcohol is observed (which of course is no invitation to drink alcohol! )
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