Category: Parkinson's Disease: Disease mechanisms
Objective: The anatomical and physiological characteristics of tremor in patients with Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor at the same age significantly influence diagnostic approaches, differentiation and prognosis of both conditions.
Background: Tremor in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET) has different pathophysiological origins: PD tremor is linked to substantia nigra degeneration, while ET involves cerebellar dysfunction. Differentiating these conditions is essential for accurate diagnosis, especially in elderly patients. MRI-based biomarkers offer a promising tool to enhance diagnostic precision.
Method: We examined 10 patients with early-stage Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor treated at the FMIOPH clinic from 2024 to 2025. The first group consisted of 5 patients aged approximately 70 years olds with diagnosis Parkinson’s disease, second group consist of 5 patients the same age as the patients of the first group. All participants were in the initial stages of their respective diseases.
Results: Despite similar neurological status, tremor mechanisms, severity, and clinical presentation varied between the two groups. MRI analysis revealed distinct neuroanatomical differences between essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease patients. Essential tremor was primarily associated with structural and functional alterations in the cerebellum, suggesting its key role in tremor generation. In contrast, Parkinson’s disease patients exhibited significant degeneration in the substantia nigra, indicating dopaminergic system involvement. These findings highlight fundamental pathophysiological differences in tremor manifestation between the two conditions.
Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate distinct MRI-based biomarkers for differentiating essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease in elderly patients (≥70 years). These results provide valuable insights for improving diagnostic accuracy and understanding the neural mechanisms underlying tremor disorders and ultimately improving clinical decision-making in geriatric neurology.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
ZUJ. Jahongir Qizi, RMA. Abduvahabovna. Differentiated approach to treatment and diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2025; 40 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/differentiated-approach-to-treatment-and-diagnosis-of-parkinsons-disease/. Accessed October 5, 2025.« Back to 2025 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/differentiated-approach-to-treatment-and-diagnosis-of-parkinsons-disease/