Potential Role for Histamine Identified in Tourette's Syndrome

[mzmolly]

May 5, 2010 — A potential role for histaminergic neurotransmission has been identified in the condition underlying Tourette's syndrome and nervous tics, according to the findings of a genetic analysis published online May 5 in the New England Journal of Medicine.

"This is the first observation of a link between histaminergic neurotransmission and tics in humans and one of the few times that a clearly functional coding mutation has been found in a family with Tourette's syndrome," said the study's principal investigator Matthew W. State, MD, PhD, with the Yale Child Study Center in New Haven, Connecticut.

"Given the availability of pharmacological agents that specifically increase histaminergic neurotransmission, the finding suggests a novel approach to treating Tourette's syndrome," he told Medscape Neurology.

According to the researchers, Tourette's syndrome has a population prevalence of 1% and a rate of recurrence of 10% to 15% among first-degree relatives of an affected person. Although a genetic contribution to Tourette's syndrome is well established, thus far, findings have been nonreproducible.

More at at http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/721234">MEDSCAPE and http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/NEJMoa0907006">NEJM

[tavalon]

1. Geez, Benadryl as a cure for Tourettes?

Doesn't sound very profitable.

:sarcasm:

[mzmolly]

3. Some people do use antihistamines

with a degree of success. Though, I'm not sure how it's all connected as supposedly the brain needs more histamine, and antihistamines would have an opposite effect on the tissue. Perhaps more remains in the brain or ???

:shrug:

[tavalon]

2. Now my reading comprehension kicks in

They are talking about stimulating the histamine reaction? Wouldn't that wreak havoc on, well, everything?

Saved to read when I'm not tired.

[mzmolly]

4. Apparently there are differing receptors?

H3, the receptor impacting the brain is what is being targeted by intervention. That said, your concern is a concern from what I understand.