What is Tourette Syndrome?

Contents

Tourette Syndrome: Introduction
Types of Tourette Syndrome
Prognosis
Prevalence
Other names for Tourette Syndrome
Who gets Tourette Syndrome?
What causes Tourette Syndrome?
What are the symptoms of Tourette Syndrome?
Organs Affected by Tourette Syndrome
Can anyone else get Tourette Syndrome?
How is it treated?
Tourette Syndrome: Introduction

What is Tourette Syndrome?

Tourette Syndrome: A neurological disorder involving vocal and movement tics where where uncontrollable movements or verbal utterances are made.
Tourette Syndrome: neuropsychological disorder related to alterations in dopamine metabolism and neurotransmission involving frontal-subcortical neuronal circuits; both multiple motor and one or more vocal tics need to be present with tics occurring many times a day, nearly daily, over a period of more than one year; disturbance causes marked distress or significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Source - Diseases Database

Tourette Syndrome is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Tourette Syndrome, or a subtype of Tourette Syndrome, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Tourette Syndrome as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet

Tourette Syndrome: Introduction

Types of Tourette Syndrome:

Broader types of Tourette Syndrome:

How many people get Tourette Syndrome?

Prevalance of Tourette Syndrome: estimated 1-10 per 1,000 children have Tourette syndrome, Genetics Home Reference website
Prevalance Rate of Tourette Syndrome: approx 1 in 1,000 or 0.10% or 272,000 people in USA [about data]

Who gets Tourette Syndrome?

Patient Profile for Tourette Syndrome: Symptoms usually appear before 18. First tics usually noticed in childhood.

Profile for Tourette Syndrome: The symptoms of TS generally appear before the individual is 18 years old. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Tourette Syndrome Information Page: NINDS)

Gender Profile for Tourette Syndrome: More common in males

Gender Ratio for Tourette Syndrome: male:female 3:1

How serious is Tourette Syndrome?

Prognosis of Tourette Syndrome: Good. Normal life span. Not degenerative. May improve with age.
Complications of Tourette Syndrome: see complications of Tourette Syndrome
Prognosis of Tourette Syndrome: There is no cure for TS; however, the condition in many individuals improves as they mature. Individuals with TS can expect to live a normal life span. Although TS is generally lifelong and chronic, it is not degenerative. In a few cases, complete remission occurs after adolescence. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Tourette Syndrome Information Page: NINDS)

What causes Tourette Syndrome?

Causes of Tourette Syndrome: see causes of Tourette Syndrome

What are the symptoms of Tourette Syndrome?

Symptoms of Tourette Syndrome: see symptoms of Tourette Syndrome

Complications of Tourette Syndrome: see complications of Tourette Syndrome

Onset of Tourette Syndrome: usually 7-8 years of age

Can anyone else get Tourette Syndrome?

Inheritance: see inheritance of Tourette Syndrome

Tourette Syndrome: Testing

Diagnostic testing: see tests for Tourette Syndrome.

Misdiagnosis: see misdiagnosis and Tourette Syndrome.

How is it treated?

Doctors and Medical Specialists for Tourette Syndrome: Pediatrician, Psychiatrist, Neurologist ; see also doctors and medical specialists for Tourette Syndrome.
Treatments for Tourette Syndrome: see treatments for Tourette Syndrome
Research for Tourette Syndrome: see research for Tourette Syndrome

Organs Affected by Tourette Syndrome:

Organs and body systems related to Tourette Syndrome include:

Brain

Name and Aliases of Tourette Syndrome

Main name of condition: Tourette Syndrome

Class of Condition for Tourette Syndrome: behavior, genetic autosomal dominant

Other names or spellings for Tourette Syndrome:

TS, Gilles de la Tourette syndrome, Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome, Brissaud II syndrome, Guinon syndrome, coprolalia [generalized tic disorder], myospasia impulsive, chronic multiple tics, maladie de tics, TD, GTS, chronic motor and vocal tic disorder

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome Source - Diseases Database

Source - Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)