TOURETTE'S SYNDROME
Broadcast starting February 13, 2008

The guttural noises, the sudden jerks of the head, the neck, the arms . . . the occasional curse word and the constant touching. We explore what's behind the constant need for motion and the uncontrollable urges which typify Tourette's Syndrome. Guests include Dr. Oliver Sacks, the internationally renowned author and neurologist, Dr. Joseph Jankovic of the Baylor College of Medicine and Dr. James Leckman of Yale University. Plus, Michael Wolff, the jazz pianist with Tourette's Syndrome who was the inspiration for the Gregory Hines film, The Tic Code. Also, we'll hear about the latest genetic research and the search for the genes that code for Tourette's Syndrome. Plus, commentary by John Hockenberry.

Dr. Fred Goodwin begins the show by sharing his thoughts on Tourette's Syndrome. He notes that Tourette's Syndrome is the quintessential neuropsychiatric illness: on one level, Tourette's fits squarely into the category of movement disorders, the primary focus of neurology because of the constant movement, the ticcing, that typifies Tourette's. On another level, Tourette's syndrome engages the psychiatrist as well. It frequently overlaps with major mental disorders such as obsessive compulsive disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and depression. Plus, the psychological impact of tic behavior on the Tourette's patient, and their family, is profound. Today's focus on this neuropsychiatric disorder allows us to reflect on the relationship between psychiatry and neurology, Dr. Goodwin says. In the old days, symptoms traced to a specific disturbance in brain function indicated a neurological disorder.

Our first guest is Leonard Misner, a 31-year-old man who has had Tourette's since he was seven. Leonard was not diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome until last year, when he was 30. His diagnosis came as a great relief to Leonard after years of mystery. Next, internationally renowned author and neurologist Dr. Oliver Sacks joins The Infinite Mind to regale us with stories of his experience with Tourette's Syndrome patients. Dr. Sacks' work has focused on the link between body and mind and the ways in which the whole person adapts to neurological conditions. He is the author of Awakenings, An Anthropologist on Mars, and The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat which includes the essay Witty Ticcy Ray about his first meeting with an individual with Tourette's Syndrome. Dr. Sacks describes Tourette's Syndrome as an 'excited state' characterized by uncontrollable and sudden physical jerks, movements and vocalizations. Although the stereotype of Tourette's Syndrome is one of people cursing and talking uncontrollably, it is quite rare to find someone who actually has those symptoms. Vocalizations tend to me more guttural and noise like.

Our next guests are two doctors who work with Tourette's patients from different perspectives. Dr. Joseph Jankovic is a neurologist and the director of the Parkinson Disease Center and Movement Disorders Clinic in the Department of Neurology at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. (In addition to their web site Dr. Janovic and the Center are reachable at (713) 798-5970.) Dr. James Leckman is a child psychiatrist and the Director of Research at the Yale University School of Medicine's Child Study Center , which is also reachable at (203) 785-5880. Dr. Leckman is also the author of "Tourette's syndrome - Tics, Obsessions, Compulsions: Developmental Psychopathology and Clinical Care." Dr. Leckman and Dr. Jankovic talk about current drugs that are being prescribed for Tourette's patients, the psychological implications of having this very public disorder, the education of teachers and families and the use of alternative herbal and dietary supplements to treat Tourette's.

We were then joined by Michael Wolff, a jazz pianist with Tourette's Syndrome whose life inspired the script for Gregory Hines' recent film The Tic Code. Michael also composed and performed the score for The Tic Code. We joined Michael at his apartment in New York City where he told us what it was like to grow up as a child prodigy with Tourette's Syndrome. He really just grew up playing piano - his Tourette's was never made into an issue by his parents, teachers or friends. As a result, he always felt like a 'normal' child. Michael plays several pieces that he composed for The Tic Code which appear throughout the show. Tourette's Syndrome is a disorder that can be passed down from one generation to the next.

Our last guest is Dr. David Pauls a geneticist from the Yale University School of Medicine's Child Study Center (reachable at their web site or at (203) 785-5880) to talk about the cutting edge of genetic research as it relates to Tourette's Syndrome. Dr. Pauls' team received a grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of the National Institute of Health, to identify the Tourette's Syndrome gene. Dr. Pauls talks about the process of identifying genes that "code"for different genetic traits. His team is looking for the gene, or set of genes, that codes for Tourette's Syndrome. If the gene for Tourette's Syndrome can be identified, medications can be developed that will target those genes and treat individuals with Tourette's.

Finally, John Hockenberry shares his thoughts on Tourette's Syndrome in this week's essay. He wants to know what it's like to live life without an internal censor.

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