Why is Tourettes syndrome more common in Men than in Women?

By: Charlene Rivera-Bonet RISE 2012

Abstract Knowing the reason why are men more affected than women in Tourettes syndrome could lead to new treatments for this disease, which up to now, has no cure. Because levels of hormones, testosterone in men and estrogen and progesterone in women, is one of the most remarkable difference between genres, and because its twice as common in adolescence (raging hormone stage), hormones could be related to this disease. Dopamine controls movement, emotions, motivation and pleasure. Hormone levels are also related to emotions or mood changes. The goal in this investigation is to prove whether testosterone levels can affect the dopamine or dopamine production or not. The main focus is testosterone levels, but estrogen levels will be measured too, so it can be compared. Keywords: Tourettes syndrome, dopamine, dopamine production, hormones. Introduction Tourettes syndrome, first described by the French neuropsychiatrist George Gilles de la Tourette, is a neurological disease which is characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements or vocalizations, better known as tics. The tics can be as simple as rapid eye blinking or as complex like coprolalia. Many Tourettes syndrome patients also suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is also more common in boys that in girls, or other similar neurobehavioral problems. It is usually noticed during childhood, tends to get worse during adolescence, and usually disappears in adulthood. It can be passed down through family, but its inheritance pattern is unclear. This syndrome is said to be related to problems in the neurotransmitter dopamine levels. Dopamine regulates movement,

emotion, motivation and pleasure. Parkinson disease, characterized by the trembling of hands, arms, jaw, legs and face, is also related to dopamine. It occurs when the neurons in charge of making dopamine die or do not work properly. Parkinson is also more common in men than in women. There are areas in the brain in charge of producing, synthesizing and transporting this neurotransmitter. Some of those areas are the nigrostiatal pathway, varicosities, which are believed to be major sites of transmitter synthesis and release, and dopaminergic neurons. Although the results from the investigation may lead to investigating which specific area is affected by hormone levels, the main focus is to find out if the dopamine or dopamine production is affected. Objectives Analyze if there is a hormone-dopamine relation. (Specially testosterone) Help to find new ways to treat Tourette s syndrome. Hypothesis Hormone levels can interfere with dopamine production.

Methodology Experimental Group Expected Results

1. Men with higher levels of testosterone will have a greater

-16 men with Tourettes Syndrome 4 children (6-11), 8 teenagers (12-17) and 4 adults (18 & up) -16 women with Tourettes Syndrome 4 children, 8 teenagers and 4 adults Control Group

dopamine production, men with low levels of testosterone will have less dopamine production. 2. Tourettes Syndrome patients will have above normal testosterone levels. References
1. Feldman R., Meyer J., Quenzer L. 1997. Principles of

-16 men without Tourettes Syndrome 4 children, 8 teenagers and 4 adults -16 women without Tourettes Syndrome
4

Neuropsychopharmacology. Sinaucer Associates, Inc. p 288-301

children, 8 teenagers and 4 adults

2. Tourettes Syndrome Data & Statistics. Center for

1. Measure and compare level of testosterone, estrogen, and dopamine concentration on each. 2. Same procedure with women. 3. Since sports or different daily life tasks can affect Tourettes syndrome each person would need to have similar life styles.

Disease Control and Prevention. 2012. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/tourette/data.html

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Carrier. October 1988. Available from http://www.kopfinstruments.com/Carrier/downloads/Car rier20.pdf

Bio-available Testosterone levels can be measured through blood tests. Dopamine concentrations can be measured with DaT Scans. Institutional Review Board (IRB) consent and assent pages will be needed.

4. Tourettes Syndrome. Genetics Home Reference. May

2008. Available from http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/tourette-syndrome

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Labs Medical Laboratory Servince. Available from

http://www.lifelabs.com/Lifelabs_ON/Patients/Test Info/Special/Malemenopause.asp