Many people have heard of Tourette's syndrome but do not have any knowledge of what it is. This disorder is misunderstood by a large percentage of people. This article will define what this disorder is. Symptoms and and causes will be discussed. Also treatment and prognosis will be addressed.
What is Tourette's Syndrome?
Tourette's syndrome is a neurological disorder that causes the afflicted person to have repetitive involuntary movements and/or vocalizations called "tics." It was discovered by a French neurologist in 1885. The disorder is detected in early childhood most of the time. Males are affected about three times more often than females.
Roughly 200,000 people living in America have the most severe form of Tourette's syndrome. It is not ethnicity specific. About one in every hundred people have less severe symptoms. Though the condition can cause problems throughout the lifespan it symptoms are usually the worst in the early teen years.
Causes of Tourette's
The exact cause of Tourette's is unknown and likely very complex. Research suggests that abnormalities in regions of the brain are the cause. Also the circuits that connect these regions could be part of the cause. It is also thought that the neurotransmitters dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine can contribute to the disorder.
Symptoms of Tourette's
Tics resulting from Tourette's syndrome can be either simple or complex. Examples of simple motor tics include:
- eye blinking
- facial grimacing
- shoulder shrugging
- head/shoulder jerking
Simple vocalization tics can include:
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