The decline in Tourette syndrome symptoms as patients age may represent temporary improvement, according to a recent study. In addition, the latent period lasted years in adult patients, differing from the more rapid waxing and waning in children. A change in substance use was an important trigger as well. Researchers performed a retrospective chart review of outpatients aged >21 years (n=16; latent period=16 years) seen at the Yale neurology clinic between January 2012 and July 2016 who were diagnosed with childhood-onset tics, and who experienced a latent period of greater than 1 year followed by an exacerbation. They found:

• 10 patients (62.5%) identified an exacerbation trigger, most commonly changes in substance use (5 patients).
• 7 patients (43.8%) reported worsening of tics since childhood.
• 6 patients (37.5%) had received pharmacological intervention for tics as children, and 15 patients (93.8%) as adults.
• 6 of 15 patients (40.0%) had an effective response from those pharmacological intervention(s).