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Tourette syndrome is a complex disorder characterized by repetitive, sudden, and involuntary movements or noises called tics. Tics usually appear in childhood, and their severity varies over time. In most cases, tics become milder and less frequent in late adolescence and adulthood.
Tourette syndrome involves both motor tics, which are uncontrolled body movements, and vocal or phonic tics, which are outbursts of sound. Some motor tics are simple and involve only one muscle group. Simple motor tics, such as rapid eye blinking, shoulder shrugging, or nose twitching, are usually the first signs of Tourette syndrome. Motor tics also can be complex (involving multiple muscle groups), such as jumping, kicking, hopping, or spinning.
Vocal tics, which generally appear later than motor tics, also can be simple or complex. Simple vocal tics include grunting, sniffing, and throat-clearing. More complex vocalizations include repeating the words of others (echolalia) or repeating one's own words (palilalia). The involuntary use of inappropriate or obscene language (coprolalia) is possible, but uncommon, among people with Tourette syndrome.
In addition to frequent tics, people with Tourette syndrome are at risk for associated problems including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, depression, and problems with sleep.
Tourette syndrome is a relatively common disorder. Although its exact incidence is uncertain, it is estimated to affect 1 to 10 in 1,000 children. This disorder occurs in populations and ethnic groups worldwide, and is more common in males than in females.
The SLITRK1 gene is associated with Tourette syndrome.
A variety of genetic and environmental factors likely play a role in causing Tourette syndrome. Most of these factors are unknown, and researchers are studying risk factors before and after birth that may contribute to this complex disorder. They believe that tics may result from changes in brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that are responsible for producing and controlling voluntary movements.
Mutations involving the SLITRK1 gene have been identified in a small number of people with Tourette syndrome. This gene provides instructions for making a protein that is active in the brain. The SLITRK1 protein probably plays a role in the development of nerve cells, including the growth of specialized extensions (axons and dendrites) that allow the cell to communicate with nearby nerve cells. It is unclear how mutations in the SLITRK1 gene can lead to this disorder.
Because SLITRK1 mutations have been reported in so few people with Tourette syndrome, studies need to be repeated to confirm the gene's association with this condition. Researchers suspect that other genes, which have not been identified, are also associated with Tourette syndrome.
The inheritance pattern of Tourette syndrome is unclear because many genetic and environmental factors are likely to be involved. Among family members of an affected person, it is difficult to predict who else may be at risk of developing the condition.
'''Tourette syndrome''' — also called '''Tourette's syndrome,''' '''Tourette Spectrum (TS),''' '''Tourette's disorder''', or '''Gilles de la Tourette syndrome''' (after its discoverer, Georges Gilles de la Tourette) — is a neurology or neurochemistry disorder characterized by tics — involuntary, rapid, sudden movements or vocalizations that occur repeatedly in the same way. Symptoms include multiple motor and one or more vocal tics present at some time during the disorder although not necessarily simultaneously; the occurrence of tics many times a day (usually in bouts) nearly every day or intermittently throughout a span of more than one year; the periodic change in the number, frequency, type and location of the tics, and in the waxing and waning of their severity; symptoms disappearing for weeks or months at a time; and onset before the age of 18. Vocal tics may fall into various categories, including ''echolalia'' (the urge to repeat words spoken by someone else after being heard by the person with the disorder), ''palilalia'' (the urge to repeat one's own previously spoken words), ''lexilalia'' (the urge to repeat words after reading them) and, most controversially, ''coprolalia'' (the spontaneous utterance of socially objectionable words, such as obscenities and racial or ethnic slurs). There are many other vocal tics besides those categorized by word repetition - in fact, a TS tic can be almost any possible short vocal sound, with the most common tics resembling throat clearing, short coughs, grunts, or moans. Motor tics can be of endless variety and may include hand-clapping, banging the knuckles together, and contorted facial grimacing. The term "involuntary" used to describe TS tics is a source of confusion since it is known that most people with TS do have some control over the symptoms. Before tic onset, individuals with TS experience what is called a "premonitory urge," similar ... [ Read More ]
Lisa Ann - Hearts are touched hearing this inspiring gospel recording artist and witnessing the miracle when the Lord takes away symptoms of Tourette's Syndrome when she sings.
Salon Books | by Gary Krist - "An author comes up with a new (and brilliant) twist for the detective novel: A narrator with Tourette's syndrome."
Salon Health & Body | I Can't Help It! - Lethem joins in on an article re: Tourette's syndrome (the disorder attributed to his "Motherless Brooklyn" main character and narrator, Lionel Essrog).
City Pages: The Tower of Babble - "By creating a detective with Tourette's syndrome, Jonathan Lethem addresses the mystery of language."
Freeman, John - Uncle Sloppy's Pleasure Circus. Black humor comics from an artist and musician with Tourette's syndrome.
Dr Laura on Tourette Syndrome - Article disagreeing with Dr. Laura's opinion on Tourette Syndrome.
Hope Press - Hope Press specializes in the publication of books on Tourette syndrome, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD, ADD), Conduct disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and other psychological, psychiatric and behavioral problems.
Kevin and Me - The story of a mother's struggle with her son's tourette syndrome, from when he was five until music therapy soothed his violence and brought out a peaceful man in his twenties. By Patricia Heenan.
The Coffee Chronicles - Musings on living with Tourette Syndrome through a different perspective. Also covers OCD, ADHD, ADD. Offers a book exchange, guest writers, home of the NOFF award, and a school section.
Tourette's Syndrome - Helps you secure a diagnosis, understand medical interventions, get healthcare coverage, and manage Tourette's in family life, school, community, and workplace.