NEWS & EVENTS
Don't miss the next 'bumper' newsletter - it 's never too late to join TSAA and receive a copy. Membership form available on this website.
________________________________________
TSAA CITY TO SURF FUNDRAISER
Members and family, (children included!), of TSAA are participating in the Sun Herald City to Surf on Sunday August 10 as a fundraising exercise for TSAA. If you can't join the runners you can assist by sponsoring one. To sponsor a TSAA runner click on this link, CLICK HERE If you would like to add your name to the TSAA TEAM the password is 'tourettes'.
Our thanks in advance, the TSAA Committee
________________________________________
TSAA is currently organizing a DVD project to increase awareness of Tourette Syndrome. The project offers any primary school in Australia a free DVD - ' What is Tourette Syndrome?'’. The DVD was produced by the TS Association in 2003 in Australia, and it features explanations and interviews on Tourette Syndrome. Has your child’s school received their DVD? All schools have to do is contact our office (02) 9382-3726 and a DVD will be sent. This Charity believes in donating!!
Our thanks in advance, the TSAA Committee
________________________________________
ATTENTION NEWCASTLE SUPPORT GROUP: The Newcastle TSAA Support Group now has a Yahoo Group so members can keep in touch regularly. Membership has to be approved to prevent unwanted persons from being involved. For more information, contact supportgroups@tourette.org.au
ATTENTION: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN MEMBERS!!!
A South Australian TS Support Group is now up and running. Contact supportgroups@tourette.org.au for details.
TSAA Support Groups currently operate across the Sydney metro area and in some country towns. For details contact supportgroups@tourette.org.au for details.
Three groups have also formed in QLD, and are meeting regularly on the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane - for details supportgroups@tourette.org.au or call 02 9382-3726, or better yet, join TSAA!
________________________________________
"I Have Tourettes, but Tourettes Doesn't Have Me' This informative and moving documentary from the United States is available for purchase from TSAA. Order your DVD now! info@tourette.org.au or call 02 9382-3726
________________________________________
Very Interesting Excerpt from Science AAAS - (Online Science Magazine)
14 October, 2005
News of the Week
MEDICINE:
Teenager's Odd Chromosome Points to Possible Tourette Syndrome Gene
A team of geneticists reports that it has identified a gene that the researchers believe causes Tourette syndrome when mutatedReports
Sequence Variants in SLITRK1 Are Associated with Tourette's Syndrome
Tourette's syndrome (TS) is a genetically influenced developmental neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by chronic vocal and motor tics. We studied Slit and Trk-like 1 (SLITRK1) as a candidate gene on chromosome 13q31.1 because of its proximity to a de novo chromosomal inversion in a child with TS. Among 174 unrelated probands, we identified a frameshift mutation and two independent occurrences of the identical variant in the binding site for microRNA hsa-miR-189. These variants were absent from 3600 control chromosomes. SLITRK1 mRNA and hsa-miR-189 showed an overlapping expression pattern in brain regions previously implicated in TS. Wild-type SLITRK1, but not the frameshift mutant, enhanced dendritic growth in primary neuronal cultures. Collectively, these findings support the association of rare SLITRK1 sequence variants with TS.
________________________________________
TSA Victoria have released a new interactive educational CD Rom, called “No Way, Which Way?” This educational tool features interviews with members of the Association interspersed with factual and helpful knowledge about the difficulties of learning when TS is present. To purchase, contact TSA Vic on (03) 9845-2700 or via their website:
------------------------------
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH
NEW HOPE FOR THOSE WITH Tourette Syndrome
A pacemaker for the brain could bring relief from tics for people with Tourette's Syndrome. A hospital in the USA has been researching a procedure called deep brain stimulation and the results have extremely promising, if not miraculous.
Geoff Matovic has lived with TS for almost all of his 31 years, suffering with complex motor and vocal tics that have dominated his life. Medications proved useless after a period of time and the tics always returned.
Geoff then started researching a procedure called deep brain stimulation, DBS, where 2 electrodes are placed in the brain and attached to a type of pacemaker. For years this procedure has been used to control the symptoms of patients with Parkinson's and other movement disorders. Geoff contacted doctors at the university hospitals of Cleveland hoping they could help, and although deep brain stimulation had never been tried on a TS patient before, the doctors were willing to assist.
With a sophisticated system used for mapping the brain, they first inserted the electrodes and then later attached them to the pacemakers.
The results were astounding. Geoff tics have receded to the point where he can live a normal life, use a computer, play video games and challenge his stepchildren to a game of basketball.
Geoff is hopeful the procedure will bring relief to other people with TS.
------------------------------
Are you missing out?
Join TSAA now and receive our Newsletter.
Click here to view Contents of previous TSAA Newsletters