Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Sahin, H. A. Articles by Onar, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Sahin, H. A. Articles by Onar, M. Neurodegeneration SPECT

Frontal Functions in Young Patients With Essential Tremor: A Case Comparison Study

Hüseyin A. ahin, M.D., Murat Terzi, M.D., Sibel Uçak, M.D., Oktay Yapc, M.D., Tark Baolu, M.D. and Musa Onar, M.D.

Received July 6, 2004; revised November 20, 2004; accepted December 14, 2004. From the Department of Neurology, Ondokuz Mayis University, Medical School, Kurupelit, Samsun,Turkey; and the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Medical School, Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey. Address correspondence to Dr. Sahin, Ondokuz Mayis University, Medical School, Department of Neurology, 55139 Kurupelit, Samsun, Turkey; hasahin{at}omu.edu.tr (E-mail).

Essential tremor (ET) is classified as a pure motor system disease. It has been previously reported that impairments in cognitive functions can be associated with ET. The authors assessed cognitive functions in a relatively young patient group with ET and comparison subjects. Correlations between tremor severity and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and neuropsychological test performances of ET patients and comparison subjects were investigated. Sixteen patients with ET and 16 comparison subjects were assessed by a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery designed to assess global attention, language, memory, visuospatial functions, and executive functions. In 11 of 16 patients and in nine of 16 comparison subjects, rCBF was measured by technetium-99m-hexamethyl propylene amine oxime single photon emission computed tomography (technetium-99m-HMPAO SPECT). The tremor severity was quantified using the Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor (CRST). Findings revealed that ET patients differed significantly from comparison subjects on tests assessing visuospatial functions and verbal memory, whereas differences in other tests did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant difference between the rCBF of ET patients and comparison subjects. There were statistically significant inverse correlations between tremor severity and executive functions. Tremor severity was inversely correlated with bilateral frontal blood flow by technetium-99m-HMPAO SPECT. Conclusions suggest that the subclinical cognitive deficits characterized by visuospatial and verbal memory impairments and executive dysfunction may be a clinical feature of ET, and the cerebello-thalamo-frontal network may play a role in the pathophysiology of this disorder.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Kronenbuerger, M. Gerwig, B. Brol, F. Block, and D. Timmann Eyeblink conditioning is impaired in subjects with essential tremor Brain, June 1, 2007; 130(6): 1538 - 1551. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2006 American Neuropsychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us