ADVANCE/Search To Find Genetic Marker for Tourette Syndrome Takes "Major Step Forward" With New Study Results.

(ADVANCE)--NEW YORK--(BW HealthWire)--

The world-wide search to find a genetic marker for Tourette Syndrome (TS) took a "major step forward" with the announcement today of results of a study by the Tourette Syndrome Association International Consortium for TS Genetics at the 3rd International Scientific Symposium on TS at the Marriott World Trade Center here.

David Pauls, Ph.D., a Yale Child Study Center population geneticist, said that the Consortium's study discovered "two small pieces of the genome that may be strongly implicated with TS and four additional regions that may contribute" to the baffling disorder.

"This is the best information that we've ever had in terms of the actual location of a gene or genes for TS," Dr. Pauls said. "It is a major step forward."

The geneticist noted that all available evidence accrued over the last 30 years suggests that genetic factors are important for the expression of TS and that it is highly probable that several genes are involved. "This new data uncovered by our ten-center International Consortium strengthens that hypothesis and provides pointers to where these genes may be," he said.

The multi-site study, accepted for publication in the American Journal of Human Genetics, involved 76 families with two or more children affected with TS...a total of 110 sibling pairs. Clinical information was taken as well as blood samples for DNA analysis. A panel of markers relatively evenly spaced across the genome were chosen. All of the markers were typed in all of the families to see whether there was an excess sharing of particular forms of markers by the affected sibling pairs. When there is a change in a particular region of TS-affected siblings that region is more likely to share markers that are close to an abnormal gene than those who are unaffected. Each of the markers has many different forms. If there is increased sharing of these different forms it suggests increased susceptibility for TS.

"The next step," said Dr. Pauls, "is to get more data from more families to see whether these findings hold up. In the process our group will try to narrow the length of the region so that it is small enough to discover which gene is increasing the susceptibility for Tourette Syndrome."

Sponsored by the TSA, Consortium members include more than 30 investigators working in five countries.

The 3rd International Scientific Symposium on TS is a once-in-a-decade meeting of distinguished scientists from around the world sharing major findings and cutting-edge developments in all facets of TS and associated disorders. It is sponsored by the Tourette Syndrome Association with support from the National Institutes of Health.

TS is a much misunderstood neurological disorder that affects untold thousands of Americans. The most common symptoms are involuntary motor and vocal tics. These may include throat clearing, noises, sniffing and tongue clicking. Common motor tics include rapid eye blinking, head jerking, shoulder shrugging, and facial grimacing. There is no cure, but medications can reduce the severity of symptoms for some.

Established in 1972, the Tourette Syndrome Association, Inc., is a non-profit voluntary national organization that works to educate the public and physicians about this disorder. The association also funds scientific research to find a cure for TS, and provides support to people with TS and their families.

(End of advance for release 5:30 p.m. June 5)