|
Home |
FAQS |
Genetics |
Medications |
Books |
Research |
Links |
Support |
Glossary
Chat
|
Acetylcholine- a cholinergic neurotransmitter. It is used by the peripheral nervous system at the neuromuscular junction (the points where nerves stimulate the muscles).
Action potential - the electrical signals by which information is transmitted within neurons.
ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder.
ADHD - Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.
Adrenergic neurotransmitters - neurotransmitters which are chemically related to adrenaline, whic is also called epinephrine. Examples are dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine. They are also refered to as catecholamines, which are derived from the amino acid tyrosine.
akathisia - A restless feeling in the muscles, inside the body, usually the leg. Similar to "restless leg syndrome;" the only difference is that akathisia is always drug induced. It is a common side effect of neuroleptic and SSRI medictions.
Agonist - A molecule, such as dopamine, which activates a receptor, such as the dopamine receptor.
| Amino acid - These are the the building blocks of proteins, which are long chains of amino acids joined head to tail by what is called a peptide bond. Chemically, an amino acid consists of a single central carbon atom joined to four other items: an amino group (H3N) which acts as an acid; a carboxyl group (COO) which acts as a base; a hydrogen atom; and a variable side chain (R). There are 20 standard amino acids which form all of the proteins which occur in all living things: Lysine, Arginine, Histidine, Aspartic Acid, Glutamic acid, Asparagine, Glutamine, Serine, Threonine, Tyrosine, Glycine, Alanine, Valine, Leucine, Isoleucine, Proline, Phenylalanine, Methionine, Tryptophan, and Cystein. |
|
Antagonist - A molecule which binds to a receptor and prevents the usual antagonist from binding. Haldol, for example, is a dopamine receptor antagonist.
Antidepressant - usually a prescription medication, an anti-depressant taken to relieve clinical symptoms of depression. It turns out that many anti-depressants also help OCD and TS sufferers. Examples are prozac, anafranil, and paxil.
Axon - the taillke projection of the neuron through which is output is projected.
Basal Ganglia - an organ of the brain, belieto be involved in the modification of motor control. It is composed of the caudate nucleus, globus pallidus, and putamen, and is sometimes called the Lentiform nucleus. Some authors include the subthalamic nuclei and substantia nigra as part of a more general basal ganglia system, although these are anatomically distinct nuclei. The basal ganglia are sometimes called the "striatum."
Biogenic Amines - A class of neurotransmitters which include catecholamines (e.g., dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine) and serotonin.
Catecholamines - Neurotransmitters that have a catechol ring (a 3,4-dihyroxylated benzene ring). Examples are dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.
CAT Scan - Computer aided tomagraphy - a method of taking a three dimensional x-ray. The patient sits on a bed which is moved back and forth through a donut-shaped machine for several minutes. Because of the method used the actual xray dose is very low. The pictures are recombed and displayed on a computer. The technician will usually print several cross-sectional views on a single sheet of x-ray film and send them to your physician, since physicians typically do not have the software required to display and manipulate three dimensional views.
Central Nervous System (CNS) - The brain and spinal cord.
Cerebellum - Part of the brain involved in motor coordination, especially balancing. Anatomically it is a dorsal outgrowth of the embryonic hindbrain.
Cholinergic neurotransmitter - neurotransmitter built from a chemical called choline.
Chorea - a class of disorders which involve abrupt and quick movements of the head, trunk, or appendages which seem sometimes to be dancelike or "choreographed." The term choreic tic is used to describe the type of tics seen in choreas. Includes Syndenhams Chorea and Huntingtons disease. GTS is not a type of chorea.
Chronic Tic Disorder - Similar to GTS, except only vocal or motor tics, but not both; or the first appearance of the disorder occurs after the age of 18. Includes chronic motor tic disorder and chronic vocal tic disorder. Most researchers consider GTS and the chronic tic disorders to be different manifestations of the same disorder.
Clonidine - An anti-hypertensive (used for high blood pressure) medication sometimes used for GTS tics. Includes the Catepres TTS patches.
Comorbid - comorbid conditions are two diseases or disorders which occur at the same time. They may, or may not, be related to one another.
Compulsion - A feeling that you absolutely, positively have to do something, such as sneezing, or urinate. The term is also used for the compulsions felt in OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) such as checking or counting.
Congenital - Exists at birth.
Desipramine - An antidepressant; sometimes used to treat GTS.
Dopamine - an adrenergic neurotransmitter. Several dopamine receptors have been linked to TS.
DSM - Diagnostic and Stastical Manual of Mental Disorders. The current version is DSM-IV. The previous version was DSM-III-R, a revision of DSM-III. There were significant differences in the definitions of GTS between DSM-III and DSM-III-R, which caused difficulty with some insurance companies.
Dyskinesia - Involuntary movements.
Dystonia, Dystonic Tic
Echolalia - A repetition of words or phrases heard. May be immediate or delayed (even months or years).
Epinephrine - an adrenergic neurotransmitter. Its chemical formula is identical to that of the hormone adrenaline.
etiology -The cause of a disease.
Extrapyramindal - not related to the pyramidal tract of the spinal cord. There are many nerves in the spinal cord, one of which is called the pyramidal tract, and is related to motor activity. It is not the only nerve related to motor activity. Extrapyramidal side effects are sometimes seen in response to various medications, such as the neuroleptics. These are characterized by involuntary movements, muscular rigidity, and immobility, but not paralysis.
Fluoxetine - generic name for prozac, an antidepressant SSRI used sometimes to treat OCD and/or GTS.
GABA - a neurotransmitter
Glutamate - an amino acid which is an excitatory neurotransmitter in the CNS.
Glycine - an amino acid neurotransmitter.
GTS - Giles de la Tourette Syndrome
Halperidol - A neuroleptic medication used sometimes to treat GTS. Haldol is a brand name for halperidol.
Halflife - the time it takes for one half of a medication to be filtered from the blood stream.
Methylphenidate - generic name for the medication Ritalin used to treat ADHD.
MRI - Magnetic Resonance Image - a way of taking a three dimensional picture of the inside of your body. It is similar to a CAT scan, but does not involve any x-rays, only magnetic fields. Because very strong magnets are required to build an MRI scanner, the machines are very expensive and not all hospitals have them, doctors are reluctant to prescribe them, and insurance companies are reluctant to pay for them. However, MRIs are much better than xrays or CAT scans for looking at soft tissue - like the brain - because bones are virtually invisible to an MRI. They also have much higher resolution.
Norepinephrine - an adrenergic neurotransmitter
Neuron - neurons are the cells, or basic building blocks, of the nervous systems. Nerves are fibers containing the axons, or tails, of many neurons. The neuron is made up of three parts, in general:
Neuroleptic - a class of medications, such as Haldol, which were originally used to treat schizophrenia, but are also useful for treating tics.
Neurotransmitter - neurotransmitters are chemicals which the cells of the nervous system, neurons, use to communicate with one another. Within neurons, information is transmitted via electric signals known as action potentials which travel down the long tails (axons) of the neurons. When the action potential reaches the end of the axons, it is stimulated to release neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters can then do one of several things OCD- obsessive compulsive disorder
Receptor - a protein on the surface of a neuron (or any other cell) which recognizes a molecule (such as dopamine) and, when then causes the neuron to do something, such as generate an action potential or produce some particular chemical.
Serotonin - a neurotransmitter which is produced from the amino acid tryptophan. Also called 5HT (5-Hydroxytryptomine). The critical enzymes for its production from tryptophan are tryptophan hydroxylase and 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase. Seretonin receptors have been linked to tourette syndrome.
SSRI- Selective Seretonin Reuptake Inhibitor - usually these medications are antidepressants, like paxil or prozac. Technically, an SSRI is a seretonin reuptake receptor antagonist. The reuptake receptors recognize the presence of seretonin and remove it from the interstitial space between neurons; the SSRI blocks, or antagonizes, this receptor, thereby preventing seretonin from being removed. Thus seretonin remains in system for a longer period of time, and can thereby work longer.
Synapse - the intersection or junction beteween two neurons where they communicate with one another and neurotransmitters are released.
Tricyclic - general class of medications, tricyclic antidepressants. The term refers to their chemical structure, which includes three rings of carbon atoms.
Tryptophan - an amino acid which is used by the body to produce seretonin.
See also TSA's Glossary
Some common neurotransmitters implicated in GTS are dopamine, seretonin (also called 5HT or 5-hydroxy-tryptamine), GABA (gamma amino butyric acid), acetylcholine, glutamate, norepinephrine.