MDS Podcast Tremor Series: What’s essential tremor?
Dec 16, 2024
Professors Kailash Bhatia and Günther Deuschl, experts in neurology and movement disorders, delve into essential tremor, framing it as a syndrome that acknowledges its clinical diversity. They dissect the new classification's implications and common misunderstandings surrounding diagnoses. The duo also discusses how to effectively communicate the diagnosis to patients and family members, as well as the relationship between action tremors and Parkinson's risk. With an engaging debate on the future of the term 'essential tremor,' their insights are illuminating for anyone interested in movement disorders.
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Essential Tremor As A Syndrome
- The new tremor classification reframes essential tremor as a syndrome rather than a single disease.
- Kailash Bhatia emphasizes this change clarifies heterogeneity and guides clinicians to describe what they see.
Describe Signs, Don't Assume One Disease
- The classification encourages clinicians to describe observed features rather than assume a single disease entity.
- Günther Deuschl says this descriptive approach reveals subtle differences between patients.
How To Classify A Simple Action Tremor
- Label a patient with bilateral, symmetric postural–kinetic tremor as having essential tremor syndrome clinically.
- If you note mild extra features, classify them as essential tremor plus for research or closer follow-up.