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Thermal sensitivity in Tourette syndrome: preliminary report
L Scahill1, P J Lombroso, G Mack
1Child Study Center, Yale School of Nursing, New Haven, CT 06520-7900, USA.
Perceptual and Motor Skills
|May 22, 2001
Summary
Heat exposure can worsen tic symptoms in some adults with Tourette syndrome. Increased tics during heat challenges correlated with sweat rate, suggesting a link to heat-loss mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Environmental Medicine
Background:
- Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics.
- Environmental factors, such as temperature, may influence tic symptom severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of heat exposure on tic symptoms in adults with Tourette syndrome.
- To explore potential mechanisms underlying heat-induced tic exacerbation.
Main Methods:
- A survey was administered to 78 adults with Tourette syndrome regarding their tic characteristics.
- 10 adult males underwent a controlled thermal challenge, increasing ambient temperature from 22°C to 35°C.
- Tic frequency and sweat rate were monitored during the thermal challenge.
Main Results:
- 24% of surveyed individuals reported increased tics with heat exposure.
- During the thermal challenge, a general increase in tics was observed, significantly correlated with sweat rate (r = .55, p = .001).
- This heat-induced tic increase was prominent in 5 out of 10 subjects.
Conclusions:
- A subgroup of Tourette syndrome patients exhibits heat-sensitive tic symptoms.
- The findings suggest that normal heat-loss mechanisms, potentially involving dopaminergic pathways, may contribute to increased tics under heat stress.
- Abnormal thermoregulation is unlikely to be the primary cause of heat-related tic exacerbation.
