The progression of essential tremors: Illustrative videos

Abstract

Background: Essential tremor (ET) is a progressive neurological disease whose natural history is one of progressive increase in tremor severity over time; surprisingly though, there are no published videotape diaries that visually and tangibly portray this progression over time. Phenomenology: Progressive, stepwise increase in limb tremor severity over a ten-to-fifteen-year period in three patients with ET. Educational value: We hope that this brief visual diary will serve as a useful teaching tool for students, primary care physicians, and neurologists to “see with their own eyes” the extent of change that can occur in the ETs.