Prenatal Risk Factors for Tourette Syndrome: a Systematic Review Update

Abstract

Tourette’s syndrome (TS), a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent motor and vocal tics, is understood to be a genetic disorder with a complex pattern of inheritance and a high degree of heritability. Nonetheless, adversity during pregnancy and early life has been associated with the onset of TS. Understanding these associations may reveal more about the pathogenesis and disease processes of TS. All of the studies included in the review found at least one association between a peri-/prenatal risk factor and TS, although inconsistencies were present. Maternal prenatal smoking, low birth weight, and nulliparity were the only risk factors found in multiple studies. Nulliparity has emerged as a novel risk factor for TS. Prenatal maternal smoking was found to be associated with TS with comorbid ADHD, rather than pure TS. Additional evidence was found to support the relationship between lower birth weight and TS.