Breathing as a Tool for Essential Tremor
The IETF’s latest virtual education event focuses on breathing as a tool to manage stress and anxiety. It’Caths online on YouTube now, titled, “Breathing as a Tool for Essential Tremor.”
Since stress and anxiety can worsen essential tremor, when individuals learn to control breathing, it can make an impact on its severity.
Elsa Unenge, founder of Breath Curriculum, shares her expertise during this educational video. Elsa is a functional breathing coach, originally from Sweden and based in LA. She is the founder of Breath Curriculum, where she helps people use conscious breathing as a tool to regulate the nervous system to reduce stress and anxiety.
“When you breathe slowly, down into your belly and through your nose, you signal safety to your brain and it has a calming effect on your nervous system and your muscles can relax a little bit more, your heart rate decreases and your blood pressure normalizes,” Elsa explained.
After watching, take part in this free 8-minute practice session online.
Congratulations to Our 2026 Scholarship Recipients
Ten college students have been selected to receive $7,500 scholarships from the International Essential Tremor Foundation (IETF) through its Catherine Rice Scholarship Program.
Since 2011, been awarding scholarships to college students with essential tremor to lessen the burden of higher education and help students feel the support of the essential tremor community behind them as they aspire to reach their goals. To date, the IETF has awarded $255,000 in scholarship awards.
Below are our student scholars. Click on their name to read their scholarship essay and learn more about them.
- Ronan Barczyk, Ohio University, Athens, OH
- Alex Byun, University of Texas, Austin
- Kristen Carney, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers
- Ethan Cross, Miami University, Oxford, OH
- BreAnne Hamby, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, KY
- Lillian Mikell, Auburn University, Auburn, AL
- Oliver Nobert, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS
- Jada Owens, University of Central Florida, Orlando
- Aidan Tucker, Florida State University, Tallahassee
- Spencer Whitmire, Franklin University, Columbus, OH
Scholarships are made possible by donations and funds from Bob Shoenberg and the Lois and John Lichliter Estate.
New Essential Tremor Support Groups Formed
The IETF has recently welcomed —- new Essential Tremor (ET) Support Groups. Thank you to the leaders of these groups for their commitment and dedication to the essential tremor community.
ET Support Groups bring people with ET together in a caring environment to share stories, learn about management techniques and connect as a small ET community. Our newest groups are:
- Eastern Pennsylvania ET Support Group, led by leader Ryan Macalintal
- Minneapolis, MN (Twin Cities) ET Support Group, led by Ken Taylor
- ET Support Group of NJ, led by Jacqueline Cristini
See a complete list of all ET Support Groups on our website. If you don’t see one near you, consider starting one. Complete this online application to express your interest.
Research Study Recruitment
Study of AGN-151607-DP to Assess Adverse Events and Change in Disease Activity in Adult Participants with Upper Limb Essential Tremor
At Inland Northwest Research (INWR), we are enrolling adults with upper limb essential tremor (ET) for a Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating an investigational treatment called gemibotulinumtoxinA (AGN-151607-DP). The study will evaluate whether this investigational drug is safe and effective in reducing tremor. Approximately 94 participants will be enrolled at about 40 sites across the United States and Canada. Participants with INWR must be able to come to Spokane, Washington for appointments.
Participants will receive injections of either the investigational treatment or a placebo and will complete questionnaires and clinical assessments over approximately 72 weeks. Following the blinded portion of the study, participants will have the opportunity to receive the investigational treatment during an open-label period.
Study Details:
Title: A Phase 2b Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study With an Open-Label Period to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of AGN-151607-DP (USAN: gemibotulinumtoxinA) for the Treatment of Upper Limb Essential Tremor in Adults
ID: M25-850
Estimated Enrollment: 94 participants
Start: June 2026
Estimated Study Completion: November 2028
Please note: Some study site information on ClinicalTrials.gov may not yet be up to date. If you are interested in participating, please contact us directly at contacts@inwresearch.com, visit our website at inwresearch.com, or contact the AbbVie Clinical Trials Call Center for the most current information on participating sites.
Syn-T: Analysis of Cutaneous Phosphorylated alpha-Synuclein to Identify Patients at Risk of Progressing from Essential Tremor to Parkinson’s Disease
Dr. Christopher Gibbons and his team at CND Life Sciences are conducting a new research study to identify Essential Tremor (ET) patients who may be at risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. If you are between 50-85 years old and have been diagnosed with essential tremor or essential tremor-plus, you may be eligible to participate.
This two-year observational study involves skin biopsies to detect phosphorylated α-synuclein, a biomarker that may indicate early Parkinson’s disease. Participants will undergo comprehensive neurological assessments and follow-up evaluations. Compensation of $250 per completed visit is provided.
The study is being conducted at select movement disorder and clinical research centers across the United States. Enrollment is available through participating sites only — patients must be seen at a study site to be eligible.
To find out if there is a participating site near you, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov and search for “Syn-T” or “essential tremor alpha-synuclein.” You may also email the study team at ClinicalResearch@CNDLifeSciences.com with your name, telephone number, age, and diagnosis information, and they will help connect you with a site in your area, if there is one close by.
PILOT Study of Essential Tremor
Dr. Elan Louis and his team of tremor researchers at UTSW Medical Center are conducting a new PILOT study of Essential Tremor (ET). They need help from the ET community. If you are at least 80 years old and have been diagnosed with essential tremor in the last 2 to 5 years, then please contact the UTSW researchers at the following email address: tremor@utsouthwestern.edu.
We are conducting a feasibility study during which we plan to contact you once and ask over the phone 10 questions, including age, gender, medication history, treatment received for ET, and location of tremor symptoms. After completing the screening, we will ask you if you would be interested in a future study.
Please include your contact information in your message, including your name, telephone and the time zone or state.
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