The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, a unit of the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, is the nation's leading federal funder of research on disorders
of the brain and nervous system. The NINDS sponsors research on tremor both at
its facilities at the NIH and through grants to medical centers.
Scientists at the NINDS are evaluating the effectiveness of 1-octanol, a
substance similar to alcohol but less intoxicating, for treating essential
tremor. Results of two previous NIH studies have shown this agent to be
promising as a potential new treatment.
Other NINDS-funded grantees are studying two antidepressant medications,
paroxetine and venlafaxine, to see if they can help control depression in
Parkinson's disease and affect motor symptoms such as tremor, stiffness,
slowness, and loss of balance.
An additional NINDS study will examine how dextromethorphan, a drug that
alters reflexes of the larynx (voice box), might reduce voice symptoms in people
with voice disorders, including vocal tremor. This study will compare the
effects of dextromethorphan, lorazepam (a tranquilizer), and a placebo in
patients with four types of voice disorders.
Where can I get more information?
For more information on neurological disorders or research programs funded by
the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, contact the
Institute's Brain Resources and Information Network (BRAIN) at:
WE MOVE (Worldwide Education & Awareness for Movement Disorders)
204 West 84th Street
New York, NY 10024 wemove@wemove.org http://www.wemove.org
Tel: 212-875-8312 866-546-3136
Fax: 212-875-8389
National Ataxia Foundation (NAF)
2600 Fernbrook Lane North Suite 119 br>
Minneapolis, MN 55447-4752 naf@ataxia.org http://www.ataxia.org
Tel: 763-553-0020
Fax: 763-553-0167
SOURCE: National Institutes of Health (www.nih.gov)
Hyperthyroidism is an excess of thyroid hormone resulting from an overactive thyroid gland. Symptoms can include increased heart rate, weight
loss, depression, and cognitive slowing. Treatment is by medication, the use of
radioactive iodine, thyroid surgery, or reducing the dose of thyroid hormone.
Dementia is a significant loss of intellectual abilities such as memory capacity, severe enough to interfere with social or occupational functioning. There are different criteria classification schemes for dementias such as cortical, subcortical, progressive, primary, and secondary dementias. Other conditions and medication reactions can also cause dementia. Dementia is diagnosed based on a certain set of criteria. Treatment for dementia is generally focused on the symptoms of the disease.
Parkinson's disease is a slowly progressive neurologic disease characterized by a fixed inexpressive face, a tremor at rest, slowing of voluntary movements, a gait with short accelerating steps, peculiar posture and muscle weakness, caused by degeneration of an area of the brain called the basal ganglia, and by low production of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Most patients are over 50, but at least 10 percent are under 40.
Huntington's disease is the result of degeneration of neurons in areas of the brain. Huntington's disease is an inherited disorder. Early symptoms include mood swings, apathy, depression, and anger uncharacteristic of the individual. Judgement, memory, and other cognitive functions may become impaired. Presymptomatic testing is available for individuals who have a family history of Huntington's disease. Treatment includes medication and therapy for symptoms.
Encephalopathy means brain disease, damage, or malfunction. Causes of encephalopathy are varied and numerous. The main symptom of encephalopathy is an altered mental state. Other symptoms include lethargy, dementia, seizures, tremors, and coma. Treatment of encephalopathy depends on the type of encephalopathy (anoxia, diabetic, Hashimoto's, hepatic, hyper - hypotensive, infectious, metabolic, infections, uremic, or Wernicke's) are examples of types of encephalopathy.
Mercury is a naturally occurring element found in water, soil, and the air. Mercury is also contained in some fish, some of the products we use in the home, school, or dentist. Information about sources of mercury exposure, potential health effects, symptoms of exposure, fish that may contain mercury, consumer products that contain mercury, and ways to reduce your exposure to mercury is important for the health of you, and your family.
Alcohol intake by a pregnant mother may result in fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in her child. A child with FAS may be hyperactive and have a low IQ, a small head, a growth lag, short eye openings, flattened cheekbones, a short nose, a smooth, thin upper lip, shortening of the fourth and fifth fingers, and a heart murmur.
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. Some of the symptoms of Graves' disease include hand tremors, rapid heartbeat, trouble sleeping, enlarged thyroid, thinning of the skin or fine brittle hair. Causes of Graves' disease are thought to be multifactorial such as genes, gender, stress, and infection. Treatment for Graves' disease is generally medication.
Stuttering is a speech disorder characterized by speech disruptions such as prolongations of speech sounds, syllables or words, frequent repetitions, or the inability to start a word. Over 3 million Americans stutter, and boys are more likely to stutter than girls. Stuttering may be developmental, neurogenic, psychogenic, or even genetically determined. Treatment for stuttering may incorporate stuttering therapy with a speech-language pathologist and educating the parents about restructuring the child's speaking environment.
West Nile virus (West Nile encephalitis) is a brain infection caused by a virus. People become infected with the virus after they're bitten by a mosquito that has fed off of a bird that's infected with the West Nile virus. Symptoms in humans include fever, headache, rash, body ache, and swollen lymph nodes.
Ecstasy (MDMA), Rohypnol, ketamine and GHB are a few of the different types of drugs abused at bars, raves and parties. Rohypnol may produce amnesia, GHB may result in sleep, coma, or death, and ketamine can cause dreamlike states and hallucinations. Treatment of club drug addiction focuses on monitoring and managing withdrawal symptoms.
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