Traces of Aging and Oxidative Stress in Essential Tremor: An Investigation of Sirtuin and Thiol Levels: A Case-Control Study

Background This study aimed to evaluate serum SIRT1 levels and thiol/disulfide homeostasis parameters among patients with Essential Tremor (ET) to investigate the potential roles of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of the disease. Methods Forty-five patients diagnosed with ET and 45 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Serum SIRT1 levels were measured using ELISA. In the same samples, total thiol, native thiol, and disulfide levels were assessed, and the thiol/disulfide ratio was calculated. Results ET patients demonstrated significantly higher SIRT1 levels compared to controls (5.73 [3.54–18.89] vs. 4.63 [0.86–25.92] ng/mL; p  = 0.02). Native thiol levels were significantly reduced in the ET group (357.20 [225.50–446.00] vs. 374.10 [244.20–485.80] µmol/L; p  = 0.03). Total thiol was also reduced in ET patients (408.80 [260.60–518.20] vs. 436.30 [295.10–555.30] µmol/L; p  = 0.02). Disulfide levels did not differ significantly between groups ( p  = 0.24), nor did disulfide/native thiol or disulfide/total thiol ratios ( p  = 0.84 for both). Conclusions Our findings indicate alterations in oxidative stress markers in ET patients, suggesting that the increased SIRT1 levels may represent a compensatory response to neurodegenerative processes. Additionally, disruption in thiol/disulfide homeostasis may reflect redox imbalances involved in ET pathophysiology. SIRT1 and thiol parameters may serve as potential biomarkers in ET.