Tremblay C, Serrano GE, Dunckley N, Zhang N, Fiock KL, Adler CH, Driver-Dunckley E, Mehta SH, Shill HA, Beach TG. Postmortem Cerebellar Volume Is Not Reduced in Essential Tremor: A Comparison with Multiple System Atrophy and Controls.
JOURNAL OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE 2023;
13:333-340. [PMID:
36938740 PMCID:
PMC10200177 DOI:
10.3233/jpd-225033]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Essential tremor (ET) is a common movement disorder in which cerebellar microscopic and volume alterations have been repeatedly reported although with disagreement between studies. However, pronounced heterogeneity was found with regard to cerebellar volume alterations.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to assess postmortem cerebellar volume in subjects with or without ET, as compared with subjects with multiple system atrophy (MSA), a well-established cerebellar neurodegeneration.
METHODS
Cases with ET (n = 29), MSA (n = 7), and non-demented control cases without any movement disorder (n = 22) were selected from the Arizona Study of Aging and Neurodegenerative Disorders (AZSAND), a longitudinal clinicopathological study with annual research-dedicated clinical assessments by neuropsychologists, subspecialist movement disorders, and cognitive/behavioral neurologists, with comprehensive neuropathological examinations after death. Group comparisons were controlled for common age-related neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular pathologies. Cerebellar volumes were calculated using digital images of slices taken at the time of autopsy, immediately after brain removal and before fixation.
RESULTS
Cerebellar volume was not reduced in ET subjects compared to controls. The two groups did not differ in terms of incidental cerebrovascular and Alzheimer's disease neuropathology. In contrast, cerebellar volume was significantly reduced in subjects with MSA when compared to ET and control subjects.
CONCLUSION
In a well-characterized cohort, postmortem cerebellar volume measurements suggest that there are no volume alterations in ET when compared to controls, in contrast to significant cerebellar atrophy in subjects with MSA.
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