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Testing for Alcohol Responsiveness in Familial Essential Tremor
Cheryl S J Everlo1,2, Marina A J Tijssen1,2, A M Madelein Van Der Stouwe1,2
1Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands.
Tremor and Other Hyperkinetic Movements (New York, N.Y.)
|June 17, 2024
Summary
Essential tremor (ET) patients often experience reduced tremor amplitude after alcohol consumption. This study confirms that an objective alcohol responsivity test effectively identified this response in 67% of familial ET cases.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Movement Disorders
- Genetics
Background:
- Essential tremor (ET) is a common, highly heritable adult movement disorder.
- Approximately 50% of ET patients report tremor reduction after alcohol intake.
- Familial ET cohorts offer insights into genetic influences on tremor characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of an objective alcohol responsivity test in a familial ET cohort.
- To quantify alcohol's effect on tremor amplitude in individuals with familial ET.
- To explore potential familial aggregation of alcohol responsiveness in ET.
Main Methods:
- Recruited families with at least three confirmed ET members.
- Administered an in-hospital alcohol responsivity test, measuring tremor via Archimedes spirals.
- Assessed tremor at baseline (T0), 1 hour post-alcohol (T1), and the next morning (T2) using the Bain Findley scale.
Main Results:
- Twenty-four ET patients were analyzed.
- Median tremor scores (ASR) were significantly lower at T1 compared to T0 and T2 (p < 0.001).
- 67% of patients showed a significant tremor improvement (dASR ≥ 2) after alcohol consumption.
Conclusions:
- The Knudsen et al. alcohol responsivity test objectively measures alcohol's effect on tremor in ET.
- A significant objective alcohol response was observed in 67% of the familial ET cohort.
- Further research with larger cohorts is needed to investigate familial aggregation of alcohol responsiveness in ET.
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