Scientists Reveal Brain Signaling that Sets Parkinson’s Disease Apart from Essential Tremor

Researchers have identified a neurochemical signature that sets Parkinson’s disease apart from essential tremor — two of the most common movement disorders, but each linked to distinct changes in the brain. In a new study published September 2, 2025 in Nature Communications, scientists from Virginia Tech’s Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and the College of Science identified unique chemical signaling patterns of two key neurotransmitters — dopamine and serotonin — that distinguish these two disorders.