Tremor in older adults ID’d as Parkinson’s risk factor in new study
Risk of neurodegenerative disease found to be 3 times higher with tremor
Older adults with tremor are three times more likely than those in the general elderly population to develop Parkinson’s disease — especially if they act out their dreams while sleeping or experience new-onset rest tremor — a study from China has found.
That study aimed “to explore predictive factors” for the neurodegenerative disease in older adults, given that tremor — shaking or trembling movements in one or more parts of the body, most commonly affecting the hands — “is suggested to be associated with the subsequent development of Parkinson’s disease.”
Involving more than 200 older people experiencing tremor, the study tracked them for nearly eight years. More than 4% of the participants were ultimately diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
According to the researchers, “if older people have tremor and notice it happening when the limbs are relaxed (called rest tremor), it is important to consult a neurologist. This type of tremor could be a sign that they might develop [Parkinson’s].”
The study, “Risk of Parkinson’s disease in older people with tremor: A population-based prospective study,” was published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease. It drew on the Beijing Longitudinal Study on Aging II, which follows a group of people over time to identify risk factors for health problems that may come with age.
Tremor, sleep disorder tied to increased risk of developing Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s is best known for its characteristic set of motor symptoms, including not only tremor but also slowed movements, rigidity, and problems with balance. While tremor is usually the first motor symptom to manifest, it’s also common in older people who don’t have the disease, the researchers noted.
“Some people with tremor are concerned about whether they are more likely to develop Parkinson’s,” the researchers wrote.
The main difference between Parkinson’s tremor and other types is that, in those with the disease, tremor occurs mostly at rest. “However, current research hasn’t provided clear answers yet,” the team wrote.
To measure the risk of Parkinson’s in older adults with tremor and identify other risk factors for the disease, the researchers followed 202 adults for an average of 7.7 years. The patients comprised 127 women and 75 men. Upon entering the study, all reported the symptom — with nearly a quarter, or 23.4%, noting rest tremor. None, however, had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
A total of 17 participants (8.4%) went on to develop parkinsonism, a set of motor symptoms that overlap in part with those of Parkinson’s. Nine individuals (4.4%) were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after an average of 6.4 years. The researchers noted that tremor “preceded [the Parkinson’s] diagnosis by at least [four] years.”
Tremor is associated with an elevated risk [of Parkinson’s among elderly people]. … The results showed that older adults with tremor could be three times more likely to develop [Parkinson’s] than the general older population.
According to the researchers, the symptom was linked to a 3.12 times higher risk of developing Parkinson’s.
“Tremor is associated with an elevated risk” of Parkinson’s among elderly people, the team found, noting that “the results showed that older adults with tremor could be three times more likely to develop [Parkinson’s] than the general older population.”
The team also found an association between sleep disorders and Parkinson’s risk.
REM sleep behavior disorder, in which people act out dreams in their sleep, was more common among those who later developed Parkinson’s compared with those who did not develop any type of parkinsonism (25% vs. 5%). This sleep disorder, which often appears years before Parkinson’s motor symptoms manifest, increased the risk of Parkinson’s by 6.6 times, even after adjusting for age and sex, the researchers noted.
People who developed parkinsonism were more likely to develop rest tremor over time (80% vs. 1.8%), and almost all reported experiencing the symptom within a year before diagnosis. New-onset rest tremor was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing parkinsonism, approximately 38 times greater, and Parkinson’s disease, about 32 times greater.
These findings suggest that in older adults, this symptom may be a warning sign for Parkinson’s, according to the researchers. The team noted that simple screening tools, such as questionnaires about symptoms and sleep patterns, could help identify individuals who may be at high risk, allowing for early monitoring and possible intervention.
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