Causes of Tremor (essential)

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Recent research suggests that about half of all cases of essential tremor occur because of a mutation (change) in one of your genes. Genes are information centres in your body that control how your body grows and functions.

Exactly what causes essential tremor in people without these gene changes isnâ€™t known. We know that essential tremor is caused by problems with the nerves that supply certain muscles that control posture and movement, but little is known about exactly what is going on in the brain circuits that control these nerves.

Essential tremor is an â€˜autosomal dominant disorderâ€™. This means that a defective gene from one parent can pass on the condition to their child. If you have a parent with a genetic mutation for essential tremor, you have a 50% chance of developing the disorder yourself. Unfortunately, there is no simple test to determine whether your essential tremor is caused by a genetic change or not.

If you experience frequent or severe tremor, it is important that you visit your GP so that other causes can be ruled out.

Severe tremor is also a symptom of other diseases, including:

Parkinsonâ€™s disease,
disorders of the part of the brain that coordinates movement - cerebellar ataxia,
alcoholism (see alcohol misuse),
an over-active thyroid (see hyperthyroidism),
multiple sclerosis, and
brain inflammation (see encephalitis).

There are a variety of illegal drugs and prescription medicines that can also cause tremor. They include amphetamines, antidepressants, caffeine, corticosteroids and lithium.