Currently, Tourette syndrome is diagnosed approximately three times more often in males than in females. A recent study reveals that females are less likely to receive a diagnosis, experience delays in getting diagnosed, and are older at the time of diagnosis in comparison to males. This study appears in the online January 15, 2025, edition of Neurology®, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Tourette syndrome is categorized as a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by tics, which are involuntary or partially controllable, repetitive movements and sounds caused by a strong impulse to exhibit them. The research also examined persistent motor or vocal tic disorder, which includes either vocal or movement tics, but not both. For either condition to be diagnosed, the tics must persist for at least one year.
“These findings indicate that healthcare professionals and parents should actively screen female individuals showing tics and pursue medical assistance to help them manage their tics more effectively over time,” stated Marisela Elizabeth Dy-Hollins, MD, MSCR, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “Available treatment options consist of education, behavioral therapies, medications, and monitoring, as many tics tend to improve as individuals grow older.”
In the study, researchers examined a dataset of individuals recruited for genetics research involving tic disorders, alongside their family members. They identified 2,109 individuals with Tourette syndrome and 294 individuals with persistent motor or vocal tic disorder from this dataset. Participants included individuals diagnosed with tic disorders as well as their parents and siblings who were identified as having tic disorders during the screening process.
Among the female participants, only 61% had been previously diagnosed with Tourette syndrome, compared to 77% of male participants. After adjusting for various factors, the researchers discovered that female participants were 54% less likely to receive a diagnosis prior to the study, despite having the syndrome.
The research revealed that females took one additional year to receive a diagnosis of Tourette syndrome when compared to males. On average, female participants were diagnosed three years after the onset of symptoms, whereas male participants were diagnosed two years after symptom onset.
Additionally, female participants received their diagnosis at an older age, averaging 13 years old compared to 11 years old for males.
Notably, female participants reported slightly older ages at the onset of tic symptoms, with averages of 6.5 years for females and 6.0 years for males. Conversely, for persistent motor or vocal tic disorder, female participants had an earlier onset of symptoms, averaging 7.9 years compared to 8.9 years for males.
One limitation of this study is its predominantly white participant demographic, which may limit the applicability of the findings to other racial and ethnic groups.
“Further research is essential to comprehend the differences between males and females in relation to these tic disorders, along with additional studies focusing on diverse racial and ethnic populations,” Dy-Hollins emphasized.
The investigation received support from the National Institutes of Health.
