Researchers said on Thursday they have found a gene that helps cause Tourette’s Syndrome, but that many other genes are also likely to be involved in the complex disorder. Tourette’s may affect as many as one in 100 people and is marked by muscle and vocal tics including repeated sudden movements or vocalizations. Children with Tourette’s also often have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or depression.In a report published in Friday’s issue of the journal Science, Dr. Matthew State of the Yale University School of Medicine and colleagues at several other institutions said a gene called SLITRK1 appears to contribute to some cases of Tourette’s.
