Tourette’s syndrome is a rare neurological disorder that often occurs to children from 5 to 18 years old. It is typically characterized by involuntary vocal or motor tics, which are uncontrollable and sudden movements. The severity, location, and frequency of the signs would vary over time. Some common tics include shoulder shrugging, kicking, grimacing, or eye blinking. It can last for the whole life and is most severe during the teen years. This guide will show all you need to know about Tourette’s syndrome causes, symptoms, and treatments.
12 Causes of Tourette’s Syndrome
Genetics
Genes might play a key role in the development of Tourette’s syndrome. In general, close relatives of those people with this disorder usually have ADHD, OCD, tics, and other common symptoms. Studies in genetic epidemiology have suggested that most of the cases of Tourette’s syndrome are typically inherited. However, the precise mode of inheritance is still unknown and no specific genes have been identified. People with Tourette’s have around 50% chance of transferring genes to their kids, but this is a condition of incomplete penetrance and variable expression. This means not all individuals inheriting the genetic vulnerability would display symptoms. [1]
