Month: April 2019

For people with essential tremor (ET) or their loved ones, I’m happy to tell you about a research report that came out toward the end of 2018. The article by Mohammed, et al.i presented statistics on the side effects of Focused Ultrasound (FUS) as a treatment to control ET. It incorporated data from nine previously keep reading

Have you heard of the power of one? I don’t mean the movie or the novel on which it was based, though each of them conveys what the concept is all about. At its core, the power of one is about the difference a single individual can make. Sometimes, the person is a charismatic leader keep reading

What exactly causes essential tremor (ET)? No one yet knows for sure, but it is generally thought to arise with abnormal movement signals from the part of the brain called the cerebellum. The cerebellum is like the command headquarters for bodily movements. It is responsible for coordinating voluntary movements, posture, balance, speech and more. Purkinje keep reading

We all have a basic need to feel accepted. There is security, safety and closeness in believing we are understood and seen for who we are. It feels good to be included. On the other hand, rejection hurts and is often accompanied by the feeling that we have been prejudged. Others can form swift opinions keep reading

Here’s a pop quiz: how many people diagnosed with essential tremor (ET) actually have something different? What’s your guess? Is it: a) 11% b) 37% c) 50% d) 66% If you said either b or c, you are correct—depending on which of two studies is your source. There are two pertinent studies that took the keep reading

Essential tremor (ET) is considered the most common movement disorder. No one knows the cause but scientific research has led to widely held theories about dysfunction in particular cells (Purkinje cells) or a neurotransmitter called GABA. Correct diagnosis is essential for proper planning, tremor management, and ongoing quality of life adaptations. But ET can mimic keep reading

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) is a serious invasive procedure. According to Sorar et al. (2018) “As in all surgical operations, this procedure is not without complications and problems.”i The Sorar paper is based on six years of following 181 patients who were treated with DBS for either Parkinson’s disease (159 patients), a condition of involuntary keep reading

Essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder around the globe. At an estimated 4% of adults over age 40, there are currently over 300 million persons worldwide who are living with ET. Throughout history, tremors have been recognized and described primarily as an aging-related condition, but we can hypothesize that healers were consulted keep reading

We have no way of knowing if human beings have experienced tremors since the dawn of our remote ancestors. I have a hunch that essential tremor (ET) goes well back before recorded history. However, once the ancients were able to set down their observations on papyrus, parchment, or paper, “the shakes” have been documented throughout keep reading