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Essential Tremor

Overview

Patients treated at Mayo Clinic for essential tremor benefit from the expertise of Mayo Clinic movement disorders specialists and receive state-of-the-art treatment in a nurturing environment that emphasizes collaborative care. Read more about movement disorder treatment.

Patients travel to Mayo Clinic from all 50 U.S. states and from 39 countries for treatment of neurological conditions. Mayo Clinic cares for more than 1,500 patients with essential tremor each year, making Mayo one of the largest treatment centers for this disease in the world.

Diagnosis

Essential tremor is diagnosed by ruling out other possible causes. Doctors may check for problems such as thyroid disease, heavy metal poisoning or drug side effects and perform a physical and neurological examination.

People who have essential tremor may sometimes be misdiagnosed as having more serious problems such as Parkinson's disease. Mayo Clinic has the experience and tools to make an accurate diagnosis. Read more about essential tremor diagnosis.

Treatment Options

While there is no cure for essential tremor, several treatments can ease the condition for some patients. At all three Mayo Clinic locations, patients with essential tremor are evaluated and treated by movement disorders specialists from the Neurology and Neurosurgery departments. Read more about essential tremor treatment options.

About Essential Tremor

Essential tremor is a neurological disorder that causes tremors (shakes) when a person attempts a purposeful movement. The tremors have no identifiable cause and are not linked to other diseases. Essential tremor is the most common movement disorder. An estimated 5 million Americans suffer from the disease.

Read more at
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Photo of Dianne Zabel

Patient Stories

Dianne Zabel

Special education teacher gets help when tremor threatens to keep her from the classroom.

Read Dianne's story.

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