Adam’s Journal
Here’s a question from a reader:
My mother-in-law has Parkinson’s disease. Is my wife at greater risk because her mother has it? Over the last couple of years, I’ve noticed my wife, who is 55, has a tremor in her hands that’s more pronounced when she’s holding her phone.
Michael Romero
Edmond
Dr. Scofield Prescribes
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by slowness of movement, tremors and stiffness. It usually begins slowly, and over time can affect walking, balance and dexterity. Some patients can also experience cognitive changes as the disease progresses.
As with so many diseases, the single greatest risk factor for Parkinson’s is aging.
The lion’s share of Parkinson’s cases – up to 90% – are “sporadic,” meaning they have no clear inherited cause. But in the remaining 10% or so, genes play a role, most often in the form of a strong family pattern.
That said, even for those with a strong family pattern – such as a parent with the disease – risk increases only moderately. In the general population, a person’s chances of developing Parkinson’s are in the range of 1–2%. If a person’s mother or father has the disease, their lifetime risk for Parkinson’s rises to about 2–3%.
In fact, the symptoms you are describing for your wife – a tremor that’s noticeable when she holds her phone – are actually more typical of a condition known as essential tremor.
In Parkinson’s, tremors are most prominent at rest, like when hands sit in the lap. When hands move or are engaged, the tremor often lessens.
Meanwhile, essential tremors surface when people are trying to put their hands to use, manifesting when people eat, drink, write – or use their phones.
The condition is more common than Parkinson’s, and its prevalence increases significantly with age. At 55, your wife is entering a time of life when essential tremors become more common.
Like Parkinson’s, essential tremors tend to worsen as we grow older, although changes are typically very gradual. While they aren’t dangerous in the way many neurologic diseases are, they can affect daily activities, along with confidence and social engagement.
None of this should be substituted for a visit with your wife’s physician, who can much more thoroughly and accurately assess the situation. But from what you’ve described, your wife’s tremor shouldn’t meaningfully raise concern beyond that modest baseline increase from family history.
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Dr. Hal Scofield is a physician-scientist at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, and he also serves as Associate Chief of Staff for Research at the Oklahoma City VA Medical Center. Adam Cohen is OMRF’s senior vice president and general counsel. Send your health questions to contact@omrf.org.
