[Essential Tremor: Update of Therapeutic Strategies]

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Essential tremor (TE) treatment has seen advancements, particularly in surgical interventions, while pharmacological approaches remain less effective.
• Current non-pharmacological and non-surgical strategies include general advice, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and psychotherapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review currently available treatments for essential tremor (TE).
• To assess the efficacy and limitations of pharmacological and surgical interventions for TE.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of essential tremor treatments.
• Analysis of non-pharmacological, pharmacological, and surgical therapeutic options.

Main Results:

• Pharmacological treatments for TE show limited success, with 30-60% of patients responding positively and 40-60% experiencing anti-tremor effectiveness.
• First-line drugs include propranolol and primidone.
• High-intensity focused ultrasound thalamotomy is the preferred surgical option for severe essential tremor.

Conclusions:

• Further research into TE pathophysiology is crucial.
• Development of targeted TE drugs and improved invasive surgical techniques is needed.
• Surgical interventions, particularly focused ultrasound thalamotomy, represent a significant advancement for severe essential tremor cases.