Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate a computerized method for assessing tremor in neurodegenerative diseases and toxic effects of mercury, taking into account the direct relationship of tremor with stability, posture, locomotion, balance and gait.

Background: Mercurialism is the general poisoning of the body during chronic exposure to mercury vapor and its compounds, slightly exceeding the sanitary norm, for several months or years. Gradually, an increasing trembling of the fingertips develops during excitement – “mercury tremor”, first the fingers, then legs and the whole body (lips, eyelids). Tremors are involuntary rhythmic oscillatory movements of complementary antagonistic muscle groups, usually involving the hands, head, face, vocal cords, torso, and legs. Сomputerized evaluation of this phenomenon seems to be very important both for differential diagnosis of neurodegeneration (ND) and neuroinflammation, and for neurological disorders that occur as a result of occupational intoxication with mercury vapor (MI).

Method: Computer stabillometry (or posturography) is a wide range of methodological techniques that consist in measuring coordinates of center of pressure created by a person on the support plane, under certain conditions for a certain period of time, in order to quantify motor capabilities or to create a biological feedback on the support reaction for rehabilitation or training exercises. The procedure is carried out with help of special equipment NeuroCom, which registers the vibrations of the patient’s body at rest and under a certain load, and also performs a spatial and quantitative analysis of stability.

Results: We observed 37 Parkinson disease patients and 48 patients suffered from occupational MI. Sensory Organization Test (SOT), Limits of Stability Test (LOS), Motor Control Test (MCT), Adaptation Test (ADT) have been studied in both groups of patients.  All of these parameters were different in ТВ and ND. We can highlight the salient features of the posturography images in both conditions.

Conclusion: Stabilдometry is a very promising diagnostic method that allows you to analyze the movement of the body’s center of gravity relative to the center of support and assess the patient’s stability when moving and standing. The conducted studies have shown stable and reliable results of the assessment of tremor in ND and MI, which should help with early diagnosis and differential differences between both conditions.

« Back to 2022 International Congress

MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/tremor-as-a-hallmark-of-neurodegeneration-and-mercury-intoxication/