A research team from the University of Nottingham, UK, has found a brain chemical, GABA, connected with Tourette syndrome. This discovery may help reduce Tourette syndrome tics in children and help doctors develop effective treatments.

Tourette syndrome is a condition of the nervous system, which starts in early childhood. A very common feature of Tourette syndrome is the occurrence of involuntary movements or local outbursts called tics.

People with Tourette syndrome can partially control their tics. However, the tics are likely to become more frequent when they are tired. In young people, the syndrome can be troublesome affecting their education and social life.

Lead researcher Amelia Drapers and her team measured levels of neurotransmitters in the brain with a technique called magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) inside an MRI scanner. They measured neurotransmitters in the SMA.

A group of young people known to have Tourette syndrome were compared with an age-and gender-matched group of people not having the disorder. Using a functional MRI, the researchers observed concentrations of GABA in the SMA.

It was found that the participants with Tourette syndrome were found to have higher concentrations of GABA in the SMA. Having more GABA in the SMA inhibits neurological activity in the cortical areas of the brain responsible for movement.

People with Tourette syndrome have so many signals being sent to these cortical areas, leading to tics.

The researchers also found that within the corpus callosum- the white matter fiber bundles that connect the two sides of the brain - people with the highest levels of GABA also had the most connecting fibers.

Drapers said, “This result is significant because new brain stimulation techniques can be used to increase or decrease GABA in targeted areas of the cortex”.