Essential tremor in a Finnish population

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Essential tremor is a common neurological disorder.
• Understanding its prevalence and risk factors is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of essential tremor in a rural Finnish population.
• To investigate age and sex as potential risk factors for essential tremor.

Main Methods:

• A two-phase epidemiological study was conducted in southwestern Finland.
• Phase one involved a questionnaire for tremor symptoms in individuals over 40.
• Phase two included clinical examinations for those reporting frequent tremor.

Main Results:

• The overall prevalence of essential tremor was 55.5 per 1000 population aged over 40.
• Prevalence increased with advancing age.
• Essential tremor was more common in men than women, except in the oldest age group.

Conclusions:

• Essential tremor is a significant public health concern in the studied population.
• Age and sex are important factors influencing essential tremor prevalence.