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Updated: May 11, 2026
05:54
MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy for Patients with Medically-refractory Essential Tremor
Published on: December 13, 2017
Update on genetics of essential tremor
F J Jiménez-Jiménez1, H Alonso-Navarro, E García-Martín
1Section of Neurology, Hospital Universitario del Sureste, Arganda del Rey, Madrid, Spain.
Acta Neurologica Scandinavica
|May 21, 2013
Summary
Essential tremor (ET) likely involves genetic factors, supported by family and twin studies. However, the exact genetic causes and environmental influences remain elusive, with no causative genes identified yet.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Essential tremor (ET) is a common neurological disorder with limited understanding of its underlying causes.
- Strong evidence suggests a significant genetic contribution to ET, indicated by high familial occurrence and twin concordance rates.
- Environmental factors may also play a role, particularly in non-familial cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current research on the etiopathogenesis of essential tremor.
- To consolidate findings from various genetic and environmental studies related to ET.
- To highlight the ongoing search for causative genes in familial ET.
Main Methods:
- Review of family-based tremor studies.
- Analysis of twin studies comparing monozygotic and dizygotic concordance.
- Summary of linkage studies and case-control association studies.
- Examination of exome sequencing data in familial ET.
Main Results:
- Genetic factors are strongly implicated in essential tremor development.
- No definitive causative genes for ET have been identified to date.
- The LINGO1 gene variants are associated with increased ET risk.
Conclusions:
- Further research is needed to elucidate the genetic architecture of essential tremor.
- Identifying specific genes and environmental triggers is crucial for understanding ET pathogenesis.
- Continued investigation into familial ET holds promise for uncovering disease mechanisms.
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