Decreased Anterior Cingulate Cortex γ-Aminobutyric Acid in Youth With Tourette's Disorder.

Publication Type	Academic Article
Authors	Freed R, Coffey B, Mao X, Weiduschat N, Kang G, Shungu D, Gabbay V
Journal	Pediatr Neurol
Volume	65
Pagination	64-70
Date Published	09/12/2016
ISSN	1873-5150
Keywords	Gyrus Cinguli, Tourette Syndrome, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
Abstract	BACKGROUND: γ-Aminobutyric acid has been implicated in the pathophysiology of Tourette's disorder. The present study primarily sought to examine in vivo γ-aminobutyric acid levels in the anterior cingulate cortex in psychotropic medication-free adolescents and young adults. Secondarily, we sought to determine associations between γ-aminobutyric acid in the anterior cingulate cortex and measures of tic severity, tic-related impairment, and anxiety and depression symptoms. METHODS: γ-Aminobutyric acid levels were measured using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Analysis of covariance compared γ-aminobutyric acid levels in 15 youth with Tourette's disorder (mean age = 15.0, S.D. = 2.7) and 36 healthy comparison subjects (mean age = 15.9, S.D. = 2.1). Within the Tourette disorder group, we examined correlations between γ-aminobutyric acid levels and tic severity and tic-related impairment, as well as anxiety and depression severity. RESULTS: Anterior cingulate cortex γ-aminobutyric acid levels were lower in participants with Tourette's disorder compared with control subjects. Within the Tourette disorder group, γ-aminobutyric acid levels did not correlate with any clinical measures. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support a role for γ-aminobutyric acid in Tourette's disorder. Larger prospective studies will further elucidate this role.
DOI	10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2016.08.017
PubMed ID	27743746