Essential tremor linked to Dementia risk: Study

Research indicates that individuals afflicted with essential tremor, a movement disorder characterised by involuntary shaking, are three times more susceptible to dementia compared to the general populace. Essential tremor stands as one of the most prevalent tremor disorders, surpassing even Parkinson’s disease in frequency. Beyond experiencing tremors in their arms and hands, individuals may also exhibit uncontrollable shaking in the head, jaw, and voice.
Study author Elan D Louis, MD, MSc, at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, said, “While many people living with essential tremor experience mild tremor, in many individuals, the tremor can be quite severe. 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 research encompassed 222 individuals diagnosed with essential tremors, with an average age of 79 at the study's commencement. Participants underwent cognitive assessments to ascertain their cognitive status—whether normal, exhibiting mild cognitive impairment, or dementia—at the outset. Among them, 168 demonstrated normal cognitive abilities, 35 displayed mild cognitive impairment, and 19 showcased dementia at the study's initiation. Throughout the study period, 59 individuals developed mild cognitive impairment, while 41 progressed to dementia.