1 in 5 Kids with Tourette Syndrome Meet Autism Criteria

A new study shows that about one in five children with Tourette syndrome also meet criteria for autism. But the researchers believe this prevalence may be due to a similarity in symptoms rather than actual autism.

Researchers at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) tested 294 children and 241 adults with Tourette’s for autism, using a self-reporting test called the Social Responsiveness Scale. The findings show that 22.8 percent of the children reached the cutoff for autism, versus 8.7 percent of the adults. In the general population, autism is estimated to affect only 0.3 to 2.9 percent, according to studies cited in the paper.

Elevated rate of autism symptoms found in children with Tourette syndrome

Around one in five children with Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements and vocalizations, met criteria for autism, a study shows. But this prevalence may be more a reflection of similarity in symptoms than actual autism, according to the study's researchers.

Scientists Find High-Risk Gene for Tourette Syndrome

Scientists have identified the first “high-confidence” risk gene for Tourette syndrome (or Tourette disorder) as well as three other probable risk genes. Their findings, published in the journal Neuron, are a step forward in understanding the biology of the disorder and may aid in the search for better treatments.

Deep Brain Stimulation Can Ease Tics in Severe Tourette’s

Thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS), a surgical technique that sends electrical impulses to the brain’s medial thalamus, has been shown to reduce tics, or involuntary movements and vocal outbursts, in severe cases of Tourette syndrome, according to a new study at New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center. Read more HERE.