The Genetics of Tourette Syndrome

Tourette syndrome has significant genetic determinants. The mode of transmission, while mildly controversial, generally is thought to be due to a single major locus inherited either as an autosomal dominant trait with reduced penetrance, or as a trait with intermediate inheritance in which some heterozygotes manifest the disorder. These is evidence for a Tourette syndrome spectrum of symptoms that includes obsessive-compulsive disorder. Systematic genome linkage studies of Tourette syndrome are progressing, but to date there are no significant linkage findings, although the search has included many neurologically relevant candidate genes.