Tourette Syndrom Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Tourette Syndrom - Term Paper ExampleA person is only diagnosed with this rowdyism if he/she has had both motor and verbal tics for at least one year (NINDS, 2010). There is no specific test for diagnosis of Tourettes syndrome however, neurologists oft conduct MRI, Neuro-imaging studies, CT scans and EEG studies in order to rule out other neurological problems similar to Tourettes syndrome (Abram, 2010).Other neurobehavioral problems often associated with Tourettes syndrome complicate ADHD, learning disabilities and obsessive compulsive behaviors (NINDS, 2010), sleep problems are also common with people having Tourettes syndrome (Abram, 2010). The Tourettes spectrum also overlaps the autistic spectrum including Asperegers and Pervasive developmental inconvenience oneself (Shapiro, 2001).According to Jankovic (2001), diverse studies involving neuro imaging, biomedical research and genetic studies have confirmed the inheritance of Tourettes syndrome. It has been found to be an inh erited, developmental disorder of synaptic neurotransmitters (Jankavic, 2001). The inheritance factors are also related to prevalence of other associated disorders like OCD and males at risk are at a greater chance of developing tics as compared to females at risk (NINDS, 2010). Tourettes syndrome is widely considered to be genetically determined (Patel, 1996).The exact cause of this neurophysiologic disorder is unknown, however, researchers have been suggesting over time that people with Tourettes syndrome show abnormalities in level of certain neuro transmitters in the brain including dopamine, serotonin, nor epinephrine and abnormalities in certain brain areas like basal ganglia, frontal lobes and cortex (NINDS, 2010).Investigations base causes of Tourettes syndrome are being conducted on a vast scale throughout the world. The NIH itself sponsors researches in this regard, involving Genetic studies, neuro imaging, neuro pathology, clinical trials