Tremor on smiling

Mov Disord. 2009 Jul 30;24(10):1542-5. doi: 10.1002/mds.22666.

Abstract

Facial tremor occurring on smiling is a rare phenomenon and has been described (to the best of our knowledge) in the literature only once. We describe two patients who presented with a bilateral facial tremor that occurred only on smiling and other activation of therisorii muscles and had a high frequency of 9 Hz. One patient additionally suffered from young-onset Parkinson's disease, whereas the other had no further neurological symptoms or signs apart from this tremor. Anti-parkinsonian medication was unhelpful for the facial tremor in the patient with Parkinson's disease. Tremor on smiling may be a discrete entity or may be associated in some cases of Parkinson's disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Electromyography / methods
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Smiling / physiology*
  • Tremor / physiopathology*