1. By: Tony Gentile

2. Alternative Names Tourettes Syndrome is sometimes abbreviated TS Chronic Motor and Vocal Tic Disorder Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome GTS TD Tourette Disorder Tourette's Disease

3. Inheritance Pattern Although early family studies suggest an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance, more recent studies suggest that the pattern of inheritance is much more complex. There may be a few different genes with substantial effects, it is also possible that many genes with smaller effects and environmental factors may play a role in the development of Tourettes

4. Location There is not a confirmed gene that relates specifically to TS, but Mutations involving the SLITRK1 Gene, on chromosome 13, have been identified in a small number of people with TS. The gene SLITRK1, provides a guide to making the protein SLITRK1, this protein probably plays a role in the development of nerve cells Chromosome 13

5. Who is most likely? Tourettes is equally spread throughout the world’s ethnic groups. Tourettes is about three to four times as prevalent in males than in females.

6. Symptoms The main symptom of Tourettes is having tic. A tic could include simple things such as eye blinking and other vision irregularities, facial grimacing, shoulder shrugging, and head or shoulder jerking. Simple vocalizations might include repetitive throat-clearing, sniffing, or grunting sounds. These tics are usually easily recognizable just by looking at a person.

7. Commonness Tourette syndrome is a relatively common disorder. Although its exact number is not one- hundred percent known, it is estimated to affect 1-10 in every 1,000 children.

8. Deadly? Tourettes is not deadly. It usually is an inconvenience, but rarely ever causes major damage.

9. Lifespan Tourettes does not shorten the afflicted persons lifespan. The person still lives a normal lifespan of a normal human being.

10. Diagnosis There is no “test for Tourettes Syndrome Childhood is the most common time for a diagnosis of TS, as this is when the symptoms are most severe. The most common way to diagnosis Tourettes is the observation of the tics that the patient is having. These symptoms are usually easy to diagnose.

11. Treatment Because TS tics do not usually impair a person’s ability to function, most opt not to take medication However, Neuroleptics are the most widely used form of medication for tic suppression. Even so, there is no one medication that is helpful to all people with TS, nor does any medication completely eliminate symptoms

12. Support Groups Two major support groups for Turettes are; http://tsa-usa.org/, in the US http://www.tourette.ca, in Canada

13. Interesting Facts Some TS symptoms will disappear after the age of 20. TS does not affect the afflicted person’s intelligence. Tics decrease in severity during sleep. The average age for the onset of TS symptoms is seven.

14. Graphics Georges Albert Edouard Brutus Gilles de la Tourette

15. Great Story Playing ice hockey is Luke's favorite thing to do. But when Luke has a game someplace new, he often has to deal with stares and weird looks from strangers because he sometimes shouts unexpectedly or blinks his eyes hard. These tics are symptoms of Luke's Tourette syndrome. But to people who don't know him, it looks like he's in pain or needs help.

16. Credits http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_condition s/brain_nervous/tourette.html http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tourette/ detail_tourette.htm http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/tourette- syndrome http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/ts.html