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According to studies, people who suffer from essential tremor, a movement disorder characterized by involuntary shaking, are three times more likely to suffer from dementia than the general population. The findings will be presented at the 76th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, to be held in Denver and online April 13-18, 2024. Essential tremor is the most common tremor disorder, even more prevalent than Parkinson’s disease. In addition to arm and hand tremors, people may have uncontrollable head, jaw, and voice tremors.
“While many people living with essential tremor experience mild tremor, in some individuals, the tremor can be quite severe,” said study author Elan D. Louis, MD, MSc, of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. in Dallas and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “Not only do tremors affect a person’s ability to complete daily tasks such as writing and eating, our study suggests that people with essential tremor also have an increased risk of developing dementia.”
The study involved 222 people with essential tremor who had an average age of 79 years at the start of the study. They took thinking and memory tests to determine whether they had normal cognitive abilities, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia at the start of the study.
Participants then underwent follow-up exams every year and a half for an average of five years. Of this group, 168 people had normal cognitive abilities, 35 had mild cognitive impairment, and 19 had dementia at the start of the study. During the study, 59 developed mild cognitive impairment and 41 developed dementia.
The researchers then compared the rate at which people developed mild cognitive impairment and dementia, as well as the prevalence of these conditions, with rates and prevalence in the general population. They also compared participants to the rates and prevalence of people with Parkinson’s disease.
The researchers found that 19% of participants had or developed dementia during the study, and each year an average of 12% of people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment developed dementia. These rates were three times higher than rates in the general population. However, the rates were lower than those seen in people with Parkinson’s disease, a population in which dementia is more common.
The researchers also found that 27% of participants had or developed mild cognitive impairment during the study, a rate almost double the rate of 14.5% in the general population, but less than the rate of 40% in the general population. people with Parkinson’s disease.
“Although most people with essential tremor will not develop dementia, our findings provide the basis for doctors to educate people with essential tremor and their families about the increased risk and any potential life changes that may accompany this diagnosis.” Louis stated.
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