Features differentiating tremor of PD from ET72
| Features | Parkinson’s tremor | Essential tremor |
|---|---|---|
| Tremor | At rest, increases with walking. | Posture holding or action |
| Decreases with posture holding or action | ||
| Frequency | 3–6 Hz | 5–12 Hz |
| Distribution | Asymmetrical | Symmetrical (mostly) |
| Body parts | Hands and legs | Hands, head, voice |
| Writing | Micrographia | Tremulous |
| Course | Progressive | Stable or slowly progressive |
| Family history | Less common (1%) | Often (30%–50%) |
| Other neurological signs | Bradykinesia, rigidity, loss of postural reflexes | None |
| Substances that improve tremor | Levodopa, anticholinergics | Alcohol, propranolol, primidone |
| Surgical treatment | Patients usually have other parkinsonian features, requiring subthalamic nucleus or internal globus pallidus deep brain stimulation (DBS) | Thalamic VIM DBS or thalamotomy |