PREVALENCE OF A HISTORY OF SHAKING IN PERSONS 65 YEARS OF AGE AND OLDER - DIAGNOSTIC AND FUNCTIONAL CORRELATES

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and function al and diagnostic correlates of reported shaking in the community-dwel ling elderly. We conducted a standardized neurological evaluation of 1 ,056 nondemented Medicare recipients in Washington Heights-Inwood, Nor thern Manhattan (New York). Of 1,056 patients, 108 reported shaking (1 0.2%). The prevalence of reported shaking did not increase with age. I t did differ between ethnic groups, but when adjusted for depression a nd score on the Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living (ADL) sc ale, this difference was insignificant. The age-adjusted prevalence wa s similar for women and men. Neurological examination of the 108 who r eported shaking showed that 8.3% had tremor at rest, 17.6% had tremor with action, 5.6% had dyskinesia or chorea, and an additional 28.7% ha d various problems in coordination or movement. The remaining 39.8% ha d neither tremor nor problems in coordination or movement. Only 2.9% o f individuals with reported shaking had Parkinson's disease (PD), 8.7% had essential tremor, and 2.1% had oral-buccal-lingual dyskinesia. Of the remaining 86.3%, 29 (31%) had no identifiable medical condition. Those who reported shaking were less independent with ADLs, regardless of presence of tremor on examination. Shaking is commonly reported by the community-dwelling elderly. It does not necessarily identify indi viduals with essential tremor and PD, and is related to decreased inde pendence in ADLs.