Tourette syndrome - a neurological disorder that is characterised by sudden jerks and vocal sounds known as tics, was in the news recently. The United States has reported an alarming uptick in the number of cases of teenage girls developing tic-like behaviour since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a phenomenon that the researchers have attributed to the social media platform TikTok, most specifically to the Tourette syndrome influencers on the platform. Notably the researchers also mentioned mental health issues such as stress and anxiety that were exacerbated by the pandemic, which might have played a role in some of these cases. So, is Tourette syndrome a lone disorder, or are there any other conditions associated with it?
To get an answer to this question, Onlymyhealth spoke to Dr Joshy EV, who is a neurologist at the Bengaluru-based Brains Hospital. “Many with Tourette syndrome experience additional co-occurring neurobehavioral problems (how the brain affects emotion, behavior, and learning) that often cause more impairment than the tics themselves,” said Dr Joshy. But before we delve into those, let us know a bit more about this syndrome.
What Is Tourette Syndrome?
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As you already know, Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterised by sudden jerks and/or sounds called tics.
- Tics appear and disappear over time and vary in terms of type, frequency, severity and location.
- The first symptoms usually appear early, from the ages of 5 to 10, and generally in the neck and head area. They progress over time to include muscles of the trunk and arms and legs.
- Most people experience the worst symptoms in their early teens, which improve with time.
- For many, Tourette syndrome is a chronic condition and they suffer from it throughout their lifetime.
- As symptoms improve, many even do not need medication.
- Tourette syndrome is not a degenerative condition, which means it doesn’t worsen over time and the patient has a normal life expectancy.
Also read: What Is Dysmetria? How Does This Brain Condition Affect Movement Of Your Body
Disorders Associated With Tourette Syndrome
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This neurological condition has several other disorders associated with it. Dr Joshy said that although the patient might experience an improvement in the jerks and tics as one advances from adolescence to adulthood, the associated neurobehavioral conditions may continue into adulthood. The common conditions include:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: This includes issues with concentration, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
- Obsessive Compluslive Disorder/Behaviour (OCD/OCB): A person suffering from OCD gets repetitive, unwanted thoughts, ideas, or sensations (obsessions), making him/her feel the need to perform certain tasks repeatedly. Such repetitive tasks might include handwashing, checking things, and cleaning. These can significantly interfere with a person’s day-to-day life.
- Anxiety: It’s the fear, worry or unease around a certain situation, event, or how things might end.
- Learning Disabilities: Such as trouble with reading, writing, solving maths -- issues that are unrelated to intelligence.
- Behavioural Or Conduct Issues: This includes behaviour that might be socially inappropriate, anger, aggression, etc.
- Sleeping Issues: Such as trouble falling or staying asleep.
- Issues With Social Skills: Such as issues with functioning socially and difficulty in making social relationships.
- Sensory Processing Issues: This includes difficulty in organising and responding to sensory information related to touch, taste, smells, sounds, or movement.
Also read: Can Certain Foods Trigger Anxiety? Expert Weighs In
Many people with Tourette syndrome experience mild symptoms and hence do not need any treatment. However, for those whose symptoms interfere with their daily lives, the syndrome is treated with certain medications.
(With inputs from Dr Joshy EV, neurologist, Brains Hospital, Bengaluru)
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