Essential Tremor: Five New Things

Neurol Clin Pract. 2022 Apr;12(2):183-186. doi: 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000001145.

Abstract

Purpose of the review: To highlight five new things in the research and clinical aspects of essential tremor (ET).

Recent findings: The introduction of a new definition of ET and a new category "ET plus" were the major themes of the recent consensus statement. This new change demands a change in the approach to the clinical diagnosis of ET and related diseases. From the pathogenesis standpoint, the cerebellar neurodegenerative model seems to have abundant evidence in its favor compared with the olivary model, which has largely fallen out of favor. From the standpoint of therapeutics, magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy has enriched the therapeutic armamentarium.

Summary: There has been considerable progress in the field of ET. We discuss five new things in this article, which include (1) new definition, (2) ET plus, (3) approach to the diagnosis of ET, (4) cerebellar degeneration, and (5) MRgFUS thalamotomy.