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Analysis of Fine Motor Skills in Essential Tremor: Combining Neuroimaging and Handwriting Biomarkers for Early Management

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Lopez-de-Ipina, Karmele 
Solé-Casals, Jordi 
Sánchez-Méndez, José Ignacio 
Romero-Garcia, Rafael 
Fernandez, Elsa 

Abstract

Essential tremor (ET) is a highly prevalent neurological disorder characterized by action-induced tremors involving the hand, voice, head, and/or face. Importantly, hand tremor is present in nearly all forms of ET, resulting in impaired fine motor skills and diminished quality of life. To advance early diagnostic approaches for ET, automated handwriting tasks and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offer an opportunity to develop early essential clinical biomarkers. In this study, we present a novel approach for the early clinical diagnosis and monitoring of ET based on integrating handwriting and neuroimaging analysis. We demonstrate how the analysis of fine motor skills, as measured by an automated Archimedes’ spiral task, is correlated with neuroimaging biomarkers for ET. Together, we present a novel modeling approach that can serve as a complementary and promising support tool for the clinical diagnosis of ET and a large range of tremors.

Description

Keywords

Human Neuroscience, essential tremor, fine motor skills, neuroimaging, handwriting, early management

Journal Title

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1662-5161

Volume Title

15

Publisher

Frontiers Media S.A.