My relative has recently been diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome.
What is this?
- The full name of the condition is Gilles de la Tourette’s syndrome, but it is usually called Tourette’s syndrome, or just TS. George Gilles de la Tourette was the doctor who first recognised the symptoms.
TS is known to run in families, although some cases – known as sporadic Tourette’s syndrome – are not inherited. TS usually begins in childhood or the teenage years and is caused by problems with the development of the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). TS affects over three times more males than females.
Early symptoms include repeated twitches, blinks or jerks, which are referred to as ‘tics’.
- Read George’s column in full only in Wednesday’s Evening Times - great value at 45p
- Dr George Crooks was a GP for 22 years and is now the medical director of NHS24 and NHS24.com
- If you have a query, email features@eveningtimes.co.uk
