Essential tremor

Essential tremor is a disease defined by the presence of tremor (link to tremor) of action and postural tremor in the hands. Patients will notice that their hands shake when eating soup, picking up a glass or newspaper. It usually appears in youth and progresses slowly over the years. Over time, the tremor increases in amplitude and may also affect other parts of the body such as the neck, voice and legs. It used to be known as familial tremor because it has a strong hereditary component although the genes responsible are still unknown. There is also essential tremor that debuts in people over 65 years of age, but it is less frequent.