Personalized tremor relief for older adults using a new tremor-decomposition tool
Official title: Advancing tremor decomposition for personalized treatment in Essential Tremor: Moving from feasibility toward clinical application
Funded at Brigham Young University · NIH-11348834 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study aims to tailor tremor treatment for people 65 and older by refining a method that identifies which muscles cause tremor, with the goal of guiding practical, wearable relief options.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham Young University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Provo, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $552,490 |
| NIH project number | 1R15AG100590-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11348834 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults (65+) with essential tremor who experience difficulty with daily activities and are seeking improved symptom management.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with tremor conditions not covered by essential tremor or those for whom tremor is not the primary impairment may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on older adults with essential tremor and develops a tremor-decomposition method to map how different arm muscles contribute to tremor. Researchers will refine the method, test it under various conditions, and compare tremor patterns over time to inform how to best target therapies. The ultimate goal is to enable wearable devices or other practical interventions that reduce tremor and improve daily activities like eating, dressing, and grooming. The work will move from feasibility toward real-world clinical application to help patients choose more effective, personalized options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience clearer tremor control and smoother daily activities through personalized, device-guided interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary results show the tremor-decomposition approach can map muscle contributions, but broader clinical application remains to be demonstrated.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham Young University
Provo, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Charles, Steven Knight — Brigham Young University
- Study coordinator: Charles, Steven Knight
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Vocal Tremor in Essential Tremor: Understanding Physiologic Cues in Older Adults
This grant studies why and how vocal tremor happens in people with essential tremor, aiming to better understand and describe voice changes in older adults.
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A patients-facing study asks how essential tremor may be linked to dementia, with the goal of better understanding risks and potential biomarkers for people living with ET.
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PET scans to measure a brain protein (SV2A) in essential tremor
This project uses PET brain scans to look for changes in the SV2A protein in people with essential tremor to help diagnose and follow the condition over time.
-
Thalamic Coordinated Reset Deep Brain Stimulation for Essential Tremor
A new brain stimulation approach is being tested to help people with essential tremor by using coordinated, lower-intensity stimulation to the thalamus.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.