Exploring the relationship between essential tremor and Parkinson's disease
Joohi Shahed1, Joseph Jankovic
1Parkinson's Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic, Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Neurology, 6550 Fannin, Suite 1801, Houston, TX, USA. josephj@bcm.tmc.edu
Parkinsonism & Related Disorders
|August 5, 2006
Summary
Essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson's disease (PD) share clinical traits. Some ET patients may have a higher risk of developing PD, suggesting a potential link between these neurological disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Movement Disorders
Background:
- Essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are distinct neurological conditions.
- Clinical overlap exists, with some PD patients exhibiting long-standing hand tremors preceding parkinsonian symptoms.
- Familial aggregation and Lewy body pathology in ET patients suggest a potential relationship with PD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the evidence for and against an association between ET and PD.
- To critically review data suggesting a subset of ET patients may be predisposed to developing PD.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing clinical, pathological, and neuroimaging studies.
- Analysis of familial aggregation and autopsy findings.
- Examination of functional neuroimaging data indicating dopaminergic deficits in some ET patients.
Main Results:
- Overlap in clinical features between ET and PD is observed.
- Evidence suggests a potential link, including shared pathology and dopaminergic deficits in some ET cases.
- Some ET patients may have an increased predisposition to developing PD.
Conclusions:
- A subset of ET patients might be predisposed to developing PD.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the relationship between ET and PD.
- Understanding this association could lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for both disorders.
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