Researchers found that 27% of special education students had tics, compared to 20% of regular students. Early recognition and treatment can improve performance and social development for affected children.
A low-dose nicotine patch was found to be effective in controlling the severity and frequency of motor tics in children with Tourette's syndrome. The study showed that patients with active nicotine patches did better than those with control patches, even when receiving reduced doses of haloperidol.
Research suggests Tourette's syndrome is not a simple motor disorder, but rather a condition affecting the brain's circuits that control planning and decision making. The study found that individuals with Tourette's can anticipate and adjust to their tics, indicating intentional movement.
Researchers found that low doses of Tacrine hydrochloride reduced motor and vocal tics in adults with Tourette syndrome. The study also showed dose-related improvement in comorbid symptoms such as attentional difficulties, hyperactivity, and obsessive thinking.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine have discovered that brain antibodies may trigger Tourette's syndrome in part by attacking brain nerve cells after a bacterial infection. The study found higher levels of antibodies against proteins in the putamen area of the brain, suggesting a link between infections and Tourette's symptoms.
Researchers found that identical twins with differing tic severities had higher binding to D2 dopamine receptors in the caudate nucleus. This finding suggests that environmental influences modify Tourette Syndrome expression, contrary to previous studies suggesting a fixed genetic component.