Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive deficits and tremor severity with the development of depression in nondemented ET patients.

Background: Depressive symptoms are associated with essential tremor (ET). However, the relationship between cognitive and motor measures with the development of depression in ET is not yet understood.

Method: We investigated 72 nondemented patients with ET(32 ET patients with no evidence of depression (ET-D) and 40 ET patients with records of depression (ET+D)) and 36 normal controls. All subjects underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological and clinical assessment, as well as the Beck Depression Inventory-II for assessment of depression.

Results: Relative to controls, ET-D group showed significant deficits on MMSE and total score of DRS, whereas ET+D patients demonstrated additional deterioration on attention and memory subscale of DRS, although there was not significant difference between the both ET groups in MMSE and total DRS. The results of the detailed neuropsychological battery on the attention/executive functions showed a significant group effect in all tests. Regarding TMT-A and B, Stroop test (first part) and MCST, there were significantly lower rates in ET+D patients compared to healthy individuals. ET+D patients also showed significantly lower rates in TMT-A and MCST compared to ET-D. In a verbal episodic memory study, the post-hoc analysis showed significantly lower score only in the free delayed recall of ET+D compared to control individuals. In addition, there was insignificant difference in age of onset, tremor duration, total score of the Tremor rating scale and tests for visuo-spatial and constructive abilities between both ET groups.

Conclusion: This cross-sectional study has demonstrated that the development of depression in nondemented ET patients is associated with the deterioration of cognitive deficits in domains of attention and memory, but not in the global cognitive score. Futhermore, the depression development is not related with duration and severity of the tremor itself. In addition, the results of this study suggest that the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale could be a good screening for impairment both in the overall level of cognitive functioning and in individual cognitive domains in nondemented ET patients with depression.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/influence-of-cognitive-deficits-and-tremor-severity-of-the-development-of-depression-in-nondemented-patients-with-essential-tremor/