What is the term for tremor that occurs at rest, commonly seen in early Parkinson's disease?

• A. Resting Tremor
• B. Action Tremor
• C. Postural Tremor
• D. Intention Tremor

Answer: (A)

Tremor types are defined by when they occur relative to movement. A tremor that shows up when the limb is relaxed at rest and tends to fade with purposeful movement is classic for Parkinson disease. This resting tremor arises from degeneration in the dopaminergic pathways of the basal ganglia, which disrupts the normal control of movement and produces a characteristic pill-rolling tremor of the hands. In early Parkinson’s, this tremor is often unilateral and may lessen as you start to move the limb.

Other tremor types behave differently: an action tremor appears with any voluntary movement; a postural tremor occurs while holding a position against gravity; and an intention tremor worsens as you approach a target, pointing to cerebellar dysfunction. Recognizing that resting tremor is most indicative of early Parkinson disease helps distinguish it from these other patterns.