Intention tremor
A type of kinetic tremor that occurs during target directed movement is called intention tremor. That is, an oscillatory cerebellar ataxia that tends to be absent when the limbs are inactive and during the first part of voluntary movement but worsening as the movement continues and greater precision is required (e.g., in touching a target such as the patient's nose or a physician's finger).
Also called: Cerebellar tremor, Terminal tremor.
Conditions associated with intention tremor
The following conditions have been associated with intention tremor in medical literature. This is informational and not a diagnosis.
Adult-onset autosomal dominant leukodystrophy
Adult-onset autosomal dominant leukodystrophy is a medical condition that may be associated with various sympt...
Cockayne syndrome
Cockayne syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Cockayne syndrome type 3
Cockayne syndrome type 3 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome
Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptom...
Houge-Janssens syndrome 4
Houge-Janssens syndrome 4 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Medulloblastoma
Medulloblastoma is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Metachromatic leukodystrophy, adult form
Metachromatic leukodystrophy, adult form is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms a...
Morimoto-Ryu-Malicdan neuromuscular syndrome
Morimoto-Ryu-Malicdan neuromuscular syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various sympto...
Niemann-Pick disease type C
Niemann-Pick disease type C is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
PMM2-congenital disorder of glycosylation
The most frequent form of congenital disorder of N-glycosylation and is characterized by cerebellar dysfunctio...
Pelizaeus-Merzbacher spectrum disorder
An X-linked leukodystrophy characterized by developmental delay, nystagmus, hypotonia, spasticity, and variabl...
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 10
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 36
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 36 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
Stolerman neurodevelopmental syndrome
Stolerman neurodevelopmental syndrome is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and ...
Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch syndrome
Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch syndrome is a very rare disorder with features of premature aging recognizable at birt...
alpha-methylacyl-CoA racemase deficiency
A rare disorder caused by mutation in the AMACR gene. Racemization is the prerequisite to beta-oxidation for b...
amyloidosis, hereditary systemic 1
amyloidosis, hereditary systemic 1 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and sig...
developmental delay, impaired speech, and behavioral abnormalities
developmental delay, impaired speech, and behavioral abnormalities is a medical condition that may be associat...
fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome
Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by adul...
leukodystrophy, hypomyelinating, 15
leukodystrophy, hypomyelinating, 15 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and si...
leukoencephalopathy without lacunae, adult-onset
leukoencephalopathy without lacunae, adult-onset is a medical condition that may be associated with various sy...
neurodegeneration, childhood-onset, stress-induced, with variable ataxia and seizures
An autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder with onset in the first years of life following normal early...
neurodevelopmental disorder with growth impairment, quadriparesis, and poor or absent speech
neurodevelopmental disorder with growth impairment, quadriparesis, and poor or absent speech is a medical cond...
neurodevelopmental disorder with hypotonia, language delay, and skeletal defects with or without seizures
neurodevelopmental disorder with hypotonia, language delay, and skeletal defects with or without seizures is a...
neurodevelopmental disorder with progressive spasticity and brain abnormalities
neurodevelopmental disorder with progressive spasticity and brain abnormalities is a medical condition that ma...
neurodevelopmental disorder with spasticity and poor growth
neurodevelopmental disorder with spasticity and poor growth is a medical condition that may be associated with...
neurodevelopmental disorder with speech delay, movement abnormalities, and seizures
A neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a variation in the UNC13A gene, characterized by variable degrees of d...
progressive external ophthalmoplegia with mitochondrial DNA deletions, autosomal recessive 1
Any autosomal recessive progressive external ophthalmoplegia in which the cause of the disease is a mutation i...
spastic paraplegia 92, autosomal recessive
spastic paraplegia 92, autosomal recessive is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms...
spinocerebellar ataxia 52
spinocerebellar ataxia 52 is a medical condition that may be associated with various symptoms and signs....
spinocerebellar ataxia type 29
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 29 (SCA29) is a rare subtype of autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia type I (ADCA ...
Tests providers may use to investigate intention tremor
When investigating intention tremor, a healthcare provider may order one or more of the following laboratory tests. Test selection is a clinical decision made by a qualified professional.
CBC with Differential
Measures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to help evaluate overall health and detect disorder...
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
Measures 14 substances in the blood to assess kidney and liver function, electrolyte balance, and blood sugar ...
Urinalysis
Examines urine content to help detect urinary tract infections, kidney disease, and diabetes....
Symptoms commonly seen alongside intention tremor
Dysphagia
Difficulty in swallowing....
Fatigue
A subjective feeling of tiredness characterized by a lack of energy and motivation....
Fever
Body temperature elevated above the normal range....
Headache
Cephalgia, or pain sensed in various parts of the head, not confined to the area of distribution of any nerve....
Muscle weakness
Reduced strength of muscles....
Seizure
A seizure is an intermittent abnormality of nervous system physiology characterized by a transient occurrence ...
When to seek care
Seek care from a qualified healthcare provider if intention tremor is severe, persistent, worsening, or accompanied by concerning symptoms. If you think you have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the symptom intention tremor mean?
Intention tremor is a health sign or symptom described in medical literature. A type of kinetic tremor that occurs during target directed movement is called intention tremor. That is, an oscillatory cerebellar ataxia that tends to be absent when the limbs are inactive and during the first part of voluntary movement but worsening as the movement continues and greater precision is required (e.g., in touching a target such as the patient's nose or a physician's finger).
Which conditions are associated with intention tremor?
Intention tremor has been reported in association with 31 conditions in the medical literature we index, including Adult-onset autosomal dominant leukodystrophy, Cockayne syndrome, Cockayne syndrome type 3, Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, Houge-Janssens syndrome 4. These associations do not mean you have any of these conditions.
Should I see a doctor about intention tremor?
You should discuss any persistent or concerning symptoms with a qualified healthcare provider. This website does not provide diagnosis. If you have severe symptoms or signs of a medical emergency, seek care immediately.