The cerebellar involvement in essential tremor: the connecting roads

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neuroscience
• Movement Disorders

Background:

• Essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder worldwide.
• It affects approximately 1% of the general population, increasing to 5% in individuals over 65.
• ET is characterized by involuntary, rhythmic oscillations, mainly postural and kinetic tremors in the upper limbs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To summarize the current understanding of Essential Tremor (ET).
• To highlight the neurobiological underpinnings of ET.
• To emphasize the cerebellum's role in ET.

Main Methods:

• Review of genetic studies.
• Neuropathological examinations.
• Neurophysiological assessments.
• Neuroimaging techniques.

Main Results:

• Evidence points to functional, neurotransmitter-related, and structural abnormalities in the cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuit.
• These abnormalities are implicated in the diverse etiologies and clinical presentations of ET.
• The cerebellum is consistently identified as a key structure involved in ET.

Conclusions:

• Essential tremor is increasingly recognized as a neurodegenerative syndrome.
• Multiple lines of evidence support the involvement of the cerebello-thalamo-cortical pathway.
• Understanding ET's complex nature is crucial for developing effective treatments.