Asymmetry of tremor intensity and frequency in Parkinson's disease and essential tremor

Parkinsonism Relat Disord. 2006 Jan;12(1):49-55. doi: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2005.07.008. Epub 2005 Nov 3.

Abstract

We investigated the asymmetry of tremor intensity, frequency and frequency dispersion of Parkinsonian (PT) and essential (ET) tremor using accelerometry. Data of the more and less trembling hands were statistically elaborated. We found that tremor intensity was significantly asymmetric not only in PT but also in ET, while frequency and frequency dispersion were symmetric in ET but asymmetric in PT. We conclude that bilateral assessment of frequency related tremor parameters may be used for differentiation between ET and PT, and provides further details on the central organization of tremor generators.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electrophysiology
  • Essential Tremor / diagnosis
  • Essential Tremor / physiopathology*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality / physiology
  • Hand / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / diagnosis
  • Parkinson Disease / physiopathology*