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Ency. home > Disease > F > Familial tremor

Familial tremor   

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Tremor - familial

Definition:

Familial tremor is a neurologic disorder that tends to run in families, involving tremors (shaking), which is typically worsened with activity and purposeful movement.

Causes and Risks

There is overlap between essential tremor, which may occur as an isolated case or may be seen to run in families, and familial tremor, which occur more than once within a family group. Tremors occur at any age, but they are most common in older people.

A familial tremor is usually a relatively benign condition, affecting movement or voice quality, but seldom having any other effects. It involves a rhythmic, moderately rapid tremor (shaking) of voluntary muscles.

Purposeful movements may make the tremors worse. There may be difficulty holding or using small objects (such as eating or writing utensils). Emotional stress may also increase the tremors.

Over time, the tremors may affect the hands, arms, head, voice box (larynx), eyelids, or other muscles. An essential tremor rarely involves the legs or feet. In children, it is usually limited to the hands and rarely requires treatment.

The exact cause is unknown. It is likely to be an inherited (usually dominant) disorder of some type.

Ency. home > Disease > F > Familial tremor

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