Question

What is the difference between etiology and pathology in tourettes? Can you give examples relating to tourettes?

Answer 1

Tourette syndrome (TS or simply Tourette's) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder with onset in childhood, characterized by multiple motor tics and at least one vocal (phonic) tic. Some common tics are eye blinking, coughing, throat clearing, sniffing, and facial movements.

The exact cause of Tourette syndrome isn't known. It's a complex disorder likely caused by a combination of inherited (genetic) and environmental factors. Chemicals in the brain that transmit nerve impulses (neurotransmitters), including dopamine and serotonin, might play a role.

The true neuropathology of TS remains elusive, even though significant advances have been made in understanding complex interconnected circuitries within the limbic system and basal ganglia. Neuropathologic and neuroimaging studies - plagued by small samples, clinical heterogeneity, and a number of interpretative problems are generally supportive of pathology within the orbitofrontal cortex, striatum, and their efferent projections in TS. The specific patterns of abnormalities vary widely across these studies, clouding attempts to define a unifying neuropathology for this disorder.