Tourette's Syndrome and Tic Disorders

A Genetic Linkage Study of Tourette's Syndrome

Principal Investigator: Marco Grados, M.D., M.P.H.

This international multisite study is sponsored by the Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) and funded by the NIH in order to examine the genetic basis of Tourette's Sydrome (TS). In a prior phase of this research, the TSA International Genetics Consortium completed two linkage studies which point to a region in the genome that might contain a susceptibility gene for GTS (2p). In the current phase additional fine-mapping strategies are planned to further pinpoint the localization of this gene and a new sample of informative families is being collected in order to replicate the prior finding. In addition, the research emphasizes the phenotypic analysis of the related disorders obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in relation to TS. In conjunction with this grant, Dr. Grados, the Hopkins site Principal Investigator, has received research funding support from TSA to explore the relationship between TS, OCD and ADHD and their genetic determinants. For example, it is plausible that while TS and OCD can occur independent of each other, the occurrence together of TS and OCD, and of TS and OCD and ADHD, indictes a different or greater genetic loading that needs to be specifically examined. This research projects thus aims to understand the genetics basis of TS, as well as the etiological relationship of TS to OCD and ADHD.  

VOLUNTEERS being recruited for this study - Click here if you are interested.

Publications:

Tourette Syndrome Association International Consortium for Genetics. Genome scan for Tourette disorder in affected-sibling-pair and multigenerational families. Am J Hum Genet. 2007 Feb;80(2):265-72.

Grados MA, Walkup JT.A new gene for Tourette's syndrome: a window into causal mechanisms? Trends Genet. 2006 Jun;22(6):291-3.