Genetics and TS Research

A presentation by Dr. Jay Tischfield Ph.D., FACMG
Director, Rutgers University Cell and DNA Repository
March 26 at 7:30 PM EDT
Download this webinar here

During our webinar Dr. Tischfield summarized current research on inherited and other genetic factors involved in the causation of Tourette Syndrome. He described the research projects supported by the New Jeresey Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders and he highlighted the opportunities to be come involved in this research.

• How will genetics research result in better treatments for TS?
• If children can inherit a propensity toward TS from a parent, how come it is frequently the case that neither parent is affected with TS?
• Does TS typically skip generations?
• I have a 10 year old son with TS. We have discussed this and he has expressed an interest in participating. My question is how appropriate is the questionnaire and interview process for a child? I don’t want him to feel there is something wrong with him.
• Our family has previously been in touch with Dr. David Pauls of the Psychiatric and Neruodevelopmental Genetics Unit (affiliated with Harvard Medical Center). Can you tell me if the NJ effort will coordinate with or otherwise maintain one database with the Harvard effort?
• Is it genetics that determine the severity of the TS or how the indivdual responds to medication?