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What is Tourette Syndrome (TS) Tourettes syndrome is a neurological disorder that is typified by involuntary, repetitive movements called tics. TS is an inherited, neuropsychiatric disorder -TS shows an early onset during childhood between the ages of 3 and 9 years. It affect both males and females but shows a pre-dominance in males It is not restricted to ethnic groups and is widespread among the general population TS is a chronic condition that persists through the lifetime of an individual although symptoms may abate over the course of time.

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Diagnostic Criteria The tics that characterize this disorder can be simple or complex. Simple tics: involve a limited number of muscle groups and the common signs are head jerking, rapid blinking, grimacing etc. Simple vocal sounds include throat-clearing, sniffing or grunting Complex tics involve multiple muscle groups with a coordinated pattern of movements. Eg. Grimacing may be accompanied by shrugging the head or shoulders.

Other kinds of complex tics involve jumping, purposefully touching objects, bending or twisting

Vocal sounds that accompany complex tics may include guttural sounds or actual cursing or repeating other people.

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Tics are often intensified when the person is excited, stressed out.

Etiology The frequency and severity of tics often intensify over time starting as simple tics and then becoming complex. Research shows that TS develops as a result of abnormalities in different parts of the brain including frontal lobe and cortex and also due to mis-regulation of the neurotransmitters. TS is most severe before mid-teen years and then symptoms abate through adulthood.

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Incidence and prevalence of TS A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that 3 out of every 1000 children of age 6 through 17 have been diagnosed with TS. In a study from 2007, around 148,000 children were diagnosed with TS in the United States. Among children with TS, 27% have been reported as having moderate to severe forms of the disorder.

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Treatment of TS Treatment of TS involves identification of symptoms and helping the individual manage the most impairing symptoms. - Since this disease do not cause major impairment, patients often do not require medication for suppression of tics. In cases of severe symptoms which disrupt normal life, neuroleptics are prescribed eg. Haloperidol and pimozide The benefits of neuroleptics for treatment of TS are often overshadowed by the side-effects like weight gain and dullness.

VI. Prognosis Although there is no cure for TS, symptoms usually abate in the late teens and early-20s. Although lifelong and chronic, patients can usually learn to mask or control their symptoms to lead a relatively normal life. TS is not a degenerative condition and patients have a normal life expectancy.

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Interesting Facts about TS TS is a highly misunderstood disorder and has been depicted in various forms of media as an uncontrollable urge to shout profanities. Although the associated tics are involuntary, individuals can usually sense an impending tic and postpone its expression for several minutes

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