WHEREAS, Essential tremor is a neurological condition that affects an estimated 10 million Americans; and

WHEREAS, Essential tremor causes uncontrollable muscle movements and shaking of the hands, legs, head, and voice of those affected. Although not confined to the elderly, approximately 5 percent of people between 40 and 60 years of age are affected and an estimated 9 percent of people over 60 years of age experience symptoms of essential tremor; and

WHEREAS, Essential tremor is the most common form of neurological movement disorders and is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, or a condition of aging. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimates that the disorder is eight times more common than Parkinson’s disease; and

WHEREAS, Californians suffering from essential tremor face great hardships in performing activities essential to our daily lives such as eating, drinking, grooming, writing, and communicating with others. While essential tremor is not life threatening, the disruption to daily habits can be a major drain on a patient’s quality of life and may often lead to feelings of embarrassment and reoccurring depression; and

WHEREAS, There is no definitive cure for essential tremor, and while there are some effective drug therapies available for treatment, no medication has yet been developed to exclusively treat the disorder; and

WHEREAS, Increasing public awareness of essential tremor is critical to generate funding for research needed to better understand the condition and develop more effective therapies or medications. Building a greater public awareness of essential tremor can also aide in more effective diagnosis of the disorder; now, therefore, be it