SIS-01 - Tourette's Syndrome: Is It More Than Just the Tics?

What do Dan Aykroyd, Billie Eilish, Howie Mandel, and about 1% (appx 70 million lives) of the world’s population have in common? They all suffer with a condition known as Tourette syndrome. Researchers have been working to find a cause and cure for Tourette syndrome since the neurological disorder was first documented in 1885, and until recently most symptoms have been chalked up to psychosomatic causes. With the open recognition of celebrity exposure and newer understanding of the interaction of multiple gene variations and current research identifying abnormalities in certain brain regions, a broader understanding of this elusive and misunderstood diagnosis continues to propel research. This lecture will focus on what is known about the pathophysiology, diagnosis, available treatments for Tourette syndrome and what is on the horizon.