[Genetics of tremor].

BACKGROUND

Tremor is a symptom of many diseases and can constitute a disease of its own: essential tremor.

OBJECTIVE

The genetics of essential tremor and differential diagnosis of monogenic diseases with the symptom tremor.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Literature search and search of clinical genetics databases, e.g. OMIM, GeneReviews, MDSGene and the German Neurological Society (DGN) guidelines.

RESULTS

The genetics of essential tremor remain unresolved in spite of large, adequately powered studies. Tremor is a symptom of differential diagnostic value in many movement disorders. A slight tremor might have been missed or not reported in many descriptions of movement disorders.

CONCLUSION

Progress in the genetics of essential tremor probably requires a more detailed phenotyping allowing stratification into phenotypically defined subgroups. Tremor should always be included in the examination and description of movement disorders even if tremor is not a cardinal symptom. Tremor might be helpful in the differential diagnosis of hereditary dystonia, hereditary ataxia, spastic paraplegia and other movement disorders.