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Groundbreaking study reveals changes in brain cell composition and gene activity in Tourette syndrome

Researchers analyzed brain tissue from individuals with severe Tourette syndrome and identified three key changes: altered gene activity, regulatory element modifications, and interneuron loss. These findings provide unprecedented insights into the disorder's biology and may explain why individuals experience involuntary movements and ...

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 8, 2025

Releasing “brakes” in the brain

A team of researchers used deep brain stimulation to localize disrupted neural pathways in patients with Parkinson's disease, dystonia, OCD, and Tourette's syndrome. The study identified specific brain circuits associated with each disorder, revealing overlapping malfunctions that suggest a complex network of brain dysfunctions.

SourceCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 22, 2024

Predicting the chaos in Tourette Syndrome tics

Researchers have replicated and expanded on previous work to show that tics associated with Tourette syndrome have a fractal pattern, which can predict disease severity. This discovery could lead to a diagnostic tool for doctors to analyze tic patterns and diagnose patients with Tourette's

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalJournal of The Royal Society Interface·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 23, 2022

How do tics develop?

A team of researchers from Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin has identified a neural network that generates tics, which could lead to improved treatment of people with Tourette syndrome. The study found that targeting this network via deep brain stimulation can alleviate symptoms in patients.

Creating brain cells to detect Tourette's

Researchers at Rutgers University created brain cells from blood samples of individuals in a three-generation family with Tourette syndrome. The study found that a mutation in the PNKD gene is likely the cause of the disorder, which affects one in every 100-150 people in the US.

SourceRutgers University·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateSep 25, 2017

Brain's role in Tourette tics simulated in new computational model

A new computational model simulates the role of the brain in Tourette syndrome, suggesting that motor tics arise from interactions between multiple brain areas. The model predicts how dysfunctions in neural circuits can lead to an increased number of tics, which could aid in identifying new treatment targets.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateMar 30, 2017

How the brain gains control over Tourette syndrome

A study published in Current Biology found that individuals with Tourette syndrome have elevated concentrations of GABA in a specific brain region, which may lead to improved motor control. This increase in GABA levels could provide new targets for non-drug therapies, such as brain stimulation, to help manage symptoms.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 25, 2014

Antibodies to strep throat bacteria linked to obsessive compulsive disorder in mice

Researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health have found a link between antibodies to strep throat bacteria and the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder in mice. The study suggests that an inappropriate immune response to the bacteria may trigger psychiatric symptoms, providing new insights into identifyi...

Tourette syndrome misconceptions only one battle for patients

Research published in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioural Pediatrics found that nearly 90% of Tourette syndrome cases exist in conjunction with another disorder, most frequently ADHD. Perinatal factors such as low birth weight, prematurity, and maternal smoking increase the risk of co-occurring ADHD in children with Tourette.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalJournal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics·DateApr 15, 2009

Increased cognitive control in Tourette's syndrome

Researchers found that individuals with Tourette's syndrome make fewer error responses than neurologically normal peers, while responding just as fast to task demands, suggesting a compensatory change in cognitive control. This study challenges the widely held view that TS results from a failure of cognitive control mechanisms.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMar 20, 2006