The first-line treatments for essential tremor are beta-blockers, drugs commonly used in cardiac disorders. They allow a 50% reduction in the magnitude of tremors, but are contraindicated in asthma and diabetes.
Medications
Antiepileptics or anxiolytics can also reduce the magnitude of tremors.
However, there is currently no specific medication available to treat essential tremor.
Some patients experience a significant reduction in their symptoms after ingesting small amounts of alcohol. However, the risk of addiction must be taken into account, and the patient must be warned of the “rebound” effect of tremor the day after drinking.
Deep Brain Stimulation
In the most severe cases of essential tremor, treatment involves implanting a stimulating electrode in the thalamus, which delivers electrical impulses that control the tremor.
Deep brain stimulation is a surgical procedure that reduces tremors by 70% to 80%.
At Paris Brain Institute
A Phase 2 clinical trial led by Prof. Carine Karachi, in collaboration with Prof. Stéphane Lehéricy and Dr Elodie Hainque, is currently under way at Paris Brain Institute. The ULTRABRAIN project seeks to combine two technologies: focused ultrasound and MRI. When applied at low intensity, ultrasound is used to neuromodulate the activity of a targeted area of the thalamus, and thus to briefly modify the activity of this area. The effectiveness of this neuromodulation is verified in real time in a patient who is awake during the procedure by the immediate disappearance of the tremors.
This project represents a major advance for patients, as it provides access to a minimally invasive, personalized treatment that targets the specific area of the brain while limiting side effects. This innovative therapy now makes it possible to significantly reduce tremors affecting the upper limbs, thereby improving patients’ quality of life.