An estimated ten million people in the United States have a condition known as essential tremor (ET). Yet although it's been recognized for over a century-it was originally known as senile tremor-there is relatively little awareness of it as a distinct medical condition. Sometimes mistaken for Parkinson's disease, ET can lead to shaking of the arms and hands, and sometimes the head or torso. When severe, it can interfere with eating or drinking, writing, dressing, and even make some tasks impossible. Now, new approaches for treating the condition are emerging, potentially offering options to many patients whose life activities have been curtailed by ET.