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Decline in Tourette Symptoms in Adult Patients
Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov; ePub 2017 Mar 6; Schaefer, et al
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).
Schaefer SM, Chow CA, Louis ED, Robakis D. Tic exacerbation in adults with Tourette syndrome: A case series. [Published online ahead of print March 6, 2017]. Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov. doi:10.7916/D8FF3Z1Q.