Genetics of Tourette Syndrome.

This review explores the genetic basis of Tourette syndrome (TS), a complex neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics. Family, twin, and molecular genetic studies provide strong evidence for a genetic component in TS, with heritability estimates ranging from 50% to 80%. The genetic architecture of TS is complex, involving both common variants with small effects and rare variants with larger effects. Genetic studies have identified candidate genes and chromosomal regions associated with TS risk, implicating biological pathways related to neurodevelopment, neurotransmission, and synaptic function. The article also discusses the clinical implications of these findings and future research directions.