Effect of Alcohol on Tremors
Effect of Alcohol on Tremors
Tremors are involuntary movements of a part or parts of the body that occur because of
 alternating contraction and relaxation of muscles. The causes behind most tremors are poorly
 understood.

 Some studies suggest tremors could be caused by abnormalities in a particular area of the
 brain called the olivary nucleus. Researchers believe that the cells making up the olivary
 nucleus may be responsible for generating a central rhythm of the body and may therefore also
 be responsible for the generation of tremors.

 Consumption of alcohol has been known to reduce tremors in some patients. Researchers believe
 that the alcohol may work directly on the cells of the olivary nucleus. As a result,
 researchers would like to determine the effects of alcohol on three different kinds of
 tremors (physiological, symptomatic palatal, and essential palatal).
The pathophysiology and anatomical basis of most tremors remains poorly understood. One
 particular theory of essential tremor, the olivary hypothesis, has gained support from
 various studies. These studies point to the olivary nucleus as possible central rhythm
 generator. Cells in the olivary nucleus show spontaneous rhythmic discharges that can be
 suppressed by alcohol. Since alcohol is known to suppress tremor in some patients with
 essential tremor, one can theorize that it is through its effect on the olivary nucleus; that
 is, the inferior olive is the generator of the tremor. Given this assumption, we intend to
 study the effect of alcohol on three different kinds of tremor: the 8-12 Hz component of
 physiological tremor, symptomatic palatal tremor and essential palatal tremor. Our hypothesis
 is that the central generator of each of these types of tremor lies in the inferior olive and
 that the ingestion of alcohol should reduce the amplitude of the tremor, similar to the
 effect of alcohol seen in essential tremor.
INCLUSION CRITERIA:

 A total of 20 subjects will be enrolled in the study. 10 normal subjects will be enrolled
 in the study. All will have an 8-12 Hz component of physiologic tremor as determined by
 neurophysiologic studies. Patients will have a prominent 8-12 Hz spike on accelerometry
 recordings that is associated with an EMG spike at the same frequency.

 5 patients with essential palatal tremor and 5 patients with symptomatic palatal tremor
 will be included.

 All participants must be a minimum of 21 years of age.

 EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

 The presence of any medical condition, such as liver disease, history or family history of
 alcoholism, that can reasonably be expected to subject the patient to unwarranted risk or
 compromise the value of the data.

 Any patient with pathologic tremor, such as parkinsonian rest tremor, essential tremor, or
 tremor secondary to medications or structural brain lesions.

 Any clinically significant laboratory abnormalities.

 Lack of effective contraception.

 Patients who are pregnant.

 Inability to understand the nature of the study or its procedures.

 Persons under the age of 21, who are not of legal age to consume alcohol in Maryland.

 Patients taking any psychoactive medications including certain cough or cold medicine
 preparations.

 No one will be excluded or discriminated against based on the grounds of race, creed,
 gender, color, or national origin. Every attempt will be made to include women and
 minorities in the study population.