|
Pathophysiology of essential
tremor: New directions for behavioral based diagnosis and intervention. Patrick A. Ament, Duane A. Lundervold and Joseph J. Ryan Central Missouri State University, USA It has been suggested that Essential Tremor (ET) is the most prevalent of the tremor disorders. Although ET may have a prevalence rate that is as much as twenty times greater than that seen in Parkinson's Disease (PD), no unifying pathophysiologic mechanism has emerged. In addition, pharmacological, surgical, and behavioral treatment strategies have all been attempted with varying degrees of success. Recent findings from investigations focusing on subcortical central nervous system stimulation; imaging methods such as fMRI, PET, and SPECT; and clinical reports regarding the effectiveness of a number of centrally acting drugs has increased the understanding of this ubiquitous movement disorder. A clearer understanding of the pathophysiology of ET has the potential of directing the development of more effective behaviorally based diagnostic instruments as well as behaviorally based treatment interventions. This paper focuses on the role of thalamic nuclei and frontal brain areas in ET as well as differences in a number of neurotransmitter substances and systems in ET patients compared to normals and those with other tremor types aside from ET. Findings are discussed in terms of the potential directions related to diagnosis and intervention that behavioral scientists may find fruitful to pursue. Keywords: essential tremor, pathophysiology, behavioral intervention |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|