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To distinguish between the two diseases, a neurologist specializing in movement disorders will perform neurological testing and evaluate features of the tremor including frequency, amplitude, pattern, and distribution.
Parkinson's disease is much less common than essential tremor, and it presents itself in markedly different ways, however there are similarities. While treatments overlap in some areas, getting the best care requires the right diagnosis. The two conditions have key differences to look for:
Below are some of the differences & resemblances between the two diseases:
Essential Tremor
Parkinson’s
(1) Resting tremor occurs when the muscle is relaxed, such as when the hands are resting on the lap. With this disorder, a person’s hands, arms, or legs may shake even when they are at rest. Often, the tremor only affects the hand or fingers. This type of tremor is often seen in people with Parkinson’s disease and is called a “pillrolling” tremor because the circular finger and hand movements resemble rolling of small objects or pills in the hand.
Action tremor occurs with the voluntary movement of a muscle. Most types of tremor are considered action tremor. There are several sub-classifications of action tremor, many of which overlap.
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/tremor
Parkinson's disease is much less common than essential tremor, and it presents itself in markedly different ways, however there are similarities. While treatments overlap in some areas, getting the best care requires the right diagnosis. The two conditions have key differences to look for:
Below are some of the differences & resemblances between the two diseases:
Essential Tremor
- Affects hands, head and voice,
- Onset can occur at any age,
- Family history in >50% of patients.
- Action tremor. However, rest tremor has been reported with more severe disease and longer disease duration in various studies.
- Usually affects both sides of the body, but commonly starts in one hand
- Jaw Tremor may occur; jaw tremor in ET is more typically a postural or kinetic tremor rather than a rest tremor.
- Alcohol often improves tremor
Parkinson’s
- Affects hands and legs, but rarely head and voice.
- Onset generally around 60.
- Rarely family history.
- Resting tremor. However, postural tremor has been reported in patients with PD, especially young patients.
- Tremors usually start on one side of the body, commonly in the hands, and progress to the other side.
- Jaw tremor may occur
- No effect on consumption of alcohol
(1) Resting tremor occurs when the muscle is relaxed, such as when the hands are resting on the lap. With this disorder, a person’s hands, arms, or legs may shake even when they are at rest. Often, the tremor only affects the hand or fingers. This type of tremor is often seen in people with Parkinson’s disease and is called a “pillrolling” tremor because the circular finger and hand movements resemble rolling of small objects or pills in the hand.
Action tremor occurs with the voluntary movement of a muscle. Most types of tremor are considered action tremor. There are several sub-classifications of action tremor, many of which overlap.
- Postural tremor occurs when a person maintains a position against gravity, such as holding the arms outstretched.
- Kinetic tremor is associated with any voluntary movement, such as moving the wrists up and down or closing and opening the eyes.
- Intention tremor is produced with purposeful movement toward a target, such as lifting a finger to touch the nose. Typically the tremor will become worse as an individual gets closer to their target.
- Task-specific tremor only appears when performing highly-skilled, goal-oriented tasks such as handwriting or speaking.
- Isometric tremor occurs during a voluntary muscle contraction that is not accompanied by any movement such as holding a heavy book or a dumbbell in the same position.
https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/tremor
