Approach to Tremor in Older Adults

Joel S. Hurwitz, MB, FRCPC, FRCP (London), Associate Professor, Department of Medicine (Division of Geriatric Medicine), University of Western Ontario, London, ON.

This article will assist the clinician in defining and categorizing tremor, also suggesting key questions and physical examination techniques to facilitate a probable diagnosis in an older adult. The role of many drugs in the causation and exacerbation of tremor is discussed and the treatment of several specific tremor disorders is reviewed.
Key words: essential tremor, postural tremor, kinetic tremor, enhanced physiological tremor, parkinsonism.