Hand tremors in older people are most often associated with the death of nerve cells in the brain, but sometimes you can get rid of it. This information was shared by geriatrician and neurologist Valery Novoselov.
Hand tremor can have a different nature: it can manifest itself in different postures during movement or at rest. It can occur with strong emotional arousal in healthy people. Sometimes the cause of hand tremor is unknown and is called essential tremor.
However, there are certain causes, such as low blood sugar levels or taking certain medications such as antidepressants.
In the elderly, hand tremors are most commonly associated with neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson’s disease. As a result of neurodegeneration, nerve cells die and 15% or more of the neurons in the brain can be damaged in the elderly. This leads to a deficiency of certain neurotransmitters, including dopamine. A 20-40% reduction in dopamine production causes symptoms of Parkinson’s disease such as muscle stiffness (rigidity) and hand tremors.
Neurodegeneration cannot be cured completely, but treatment aimed at increasing dopamine levels in the brain can alleviate or even completely eliminate tremor in patients with Parkinson’s disease. Only a doctor can prescribe such treatment, so it is important to consult a neurologist or geriatrician if hand tremors are observed in the elderly.
Source: Ferra
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