Chantale Branson, MD, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, shares an overview of recent developments in essential tremor research. Essential tremor is likely caused by multiple factors rather than one disease entity. Treatments currently being developed for essential tremor include T-type calcium channel blocker PRAX-944. A study found that rats treated with 1mg/kg PRAX-944 had 50% reduced tremor, and rates treated with 3mg/kg had 72% reduced essential tremor, highlighting the potential of T-type calcium channel blockers. Another therapy for essential tremor is MRI-guided focused ultrasound (FUS), which provides a non-surgical alternative to deep brain stimulation (DBS). There will likely be a future increase in referrals for FUS, but a recent study found that this may not lead to an increased number of patients who receive FUS, as most patients who are referred receive DBS. Further research is being conducted to identify the most effective DBS location to reduce essential tremor, with current data suggesting that posterior subthalamic area stimulation leads to more suppression in upper limbs. This interview took place at the American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting 2023 in Boston, MA.
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