Risk Factors for Tourette Syndrome

Key points

  • The risk factors for and causes of Tourette syndrome are not well understood.
  • Current research shows that genes play an important role.
  • Scientists are studying other possible causes and environmental factors that may increase risk for Tourette syndrome.
Father and son embracing at home

What increases risk

Scientists are studying the causes of and risk factors for Tourette syndrome (TS) in an effort to understand it better, and to find better ways to manage TS and to reduce the chances of a person having TS. The causes of TS and other tic disorders are not well understood.

Mom stands behind her daughter, hugging her.
Genes play an important role in a person's risk of Tourette syndrome.

Although the risk factors for and causes of TS are unknown, current research shows that genes play an important role.12 Some research has shown that TS is a genetically complex disorder that likely occurs as a result of the effects of multiple genes interacting with other factors in the environment. Scientists are studying other possible causes and environmental risk factors that might contribute to TS. Some studies have shown that the following factors might be associated with TS, but additional research is needed to better understand these associations:23

  • Smoking during pregnancy.
  • Pregnancy complications.
  • Low birthweight.
  • Infection. Researchers have found mixed results about whether certain children are more likely to develop tics following infections.24
Print
Content Source:
National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities
  1. Marianthi G, Jeremy W, Mathews CA, Matthew S, Jeremiah S, Peristera, P. The genetic etiology of Tourette Syndrome: Large-scale collaborative efforts on the precipice of discovery. Frontiers In Neuroscience. 2016; 10(351).
  2. Krewski D, Barakat-Haddad C, Donnan J, Martino R, Pringsheim T, Tremlett H, ... Cashman, NR. Determinants of neurological disease: Synthesis of systematic reviews. Neurotoxicology. 2017;61(SI: Determinants of Neuro Dis), 266-289.
  3. Ting-Kuang C, Jing H, Pringsheim T. Prenatal risk factors for Tourette Syndrome: a systematic review. BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth. 2014; 14(1): 1-27.
  4. Orlovska, S, Vestergaard, CH, Bech, BH, Nordentoft, M, Vestergaard, M, & Benros, ME. Association of streptococcal throat infection with mental disorders: Testing key aspects of the PANDAS hypothesis in a nationwide study. JAMA Psychiatry. 2017; 74(7): 740-746.