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 Migraine
Headaches and Tourette Syndrome
from Ivanhoe News & The Archives of Neurology, November
24, 2003
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Tourette
syndrome is the most common childhood genetic movement disorder.
Previous research shows children with Tourette syndrome also
suffer from migraines. A new study confirms those findings. The
new research reports the frequency of migraine headaches in
Tourette syndrome children is nearly four-times more than the
frequency of migraines in the general population.
Tourette syndrome is characterized by motor and phonic tics that
fluctuate in severity and frequency. Previous research has found
that children with Tourette syndrome who have
obsessive-compulsive traits have migraines. Researchers from
Baylor College of Medicine in Houston conducted a study to
investigate the possible association between migraine headache
and Tourette syndrome and to look at the family history of
migraine headaches in patients with Tourette syndrome.
For the study, patients who were diagnosed with Tourette
syndrome answered a migraine headache questionnaire. Researchers
then looked at the number of patients with Tourette syndrome and
migraines and compared that to the general population. They also
noted the family history of migraines and whether the patient
also suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Study authors report out of the 100 patients with Tourette
syndrome, 25 suffered from migraine headaches. This is
significantly higher than the estimated 10 percent to 13 percent
of people who have migraines in the general population and the
estimated 2 percent to 10 percent in the general pediatric
population. Researchers also found there was no difference in
the obsessive-compulsive traits of the patients with or without
migraines. However researchers did find that of the patients
with Tourette syndrome, 56 percent reported a family history of
migraines with 44 percent of who were first-degree relatives.
Researchers conclude the frequency of migraine headaches is much
more common in patients with Tourette syndrome. However,
contrary to previous research the occurrence of migraines and
Tourette syndrome was not related to obsessive-compulsive
traits. Instead researchers speculate there may be a genetic
link to Tourette syndrome and the occurrence of migraine
headaches.
This article was reported by Ivanhoe.com, who offers Medical
Alerts by e-mail every day of the week.
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