Diffusion tensor MRI changes in cerebellar structures of patients with familial essential tremor

Abstract

Neuroimaging evidence of microstructural changes consistent with neurodegeneration was found in the dentate nucleus (DN) and SCP of patients with familial essential tremor. This suggests that neurodegenerative pathology of cerebellar structures may play a role in essential tremor. Further studies are needed to assess the role of fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity changes in DN and SCP in the differential diagnosis of essential tremor and Parkinson disease, which may present similar clinical signs at the onset of disease.