turrets syndrome

"Hey wanna arm wrestle"

My brother David Paul Keefe has been diagnosed with the Tourettes Syndrome.Tourettes  syndrome (TS) is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics. The disorder is named for Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourettes, the pioneering French neurologist who in 1885 first described the condition in an 86-year-old French noblewoman.  The early symptoms of TS are almost always noticed first in childhood, with the average onset between the ages of 7 and 10 years. TS occurs in people from all ethnic groups; males are affected about three to four times more often than females. It is estimated that 200,000 Americans have the most severe form of TS, and as many as one in 100 exhibit milder and less complex symptoms such as chronic motor or vocal tics or transient tics of childhood. Although TS can be a chronic condition with symptoms lasting a lifetime, most people with the condition experience their worst symptoms in their early teens, with improvement occurring in the late teens and continuing into adulthood. Although his case is small it could get worse. My family is worried.  The cause of  Tourettessyndrome is unknown, although some studies suggest that the tics in  Tourettes syndrome are caused by an increased amount of a neurotransmitter called dopamine. A neurotransmitter is a chemical found in the brain that helps to transmit information from one brain cell to another. Other studies suggest that the defect in  Tourettes syndrome involves another neurotransmitter called serotonin; or involves other chemicals required for normal functioning of the brain. There is no cure for Tourettes syndrome. Treatment involves the control of symptoms through educational and psychological interventions and/or medications. The treatment and management of Tourettes syndrome varies from patient to patient and should focus on the alleviation of the symptoms that are most bothersome to the patient or that cause the most interference with daily functioning.
I LOVE YOU DAVID!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Turrets+syndrome