Biomed Radio - Washington University School Of Medicine In St. Louis

Using MRIs, researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified areas in the brains of children with Tourette’s syndrome that appear markedly different from the same areas in the brains of children who don’t have the neuropsychiatric disorder. RESEARCHERS AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IN ST. LOUIS HAVE IDENTIFIED A FEW AREAS IN THE BRAINS OF CHILDREN WITH TOURETTE’S SYNDROME THAT APPEAR TO BE DIFFERENT FROM THE SAME AREAS IN THE BRAINS OF KIDS WHO DON’T HAVE THE NEUROLOGICAL DISORDER. AND THE REGIONS THAT THEY IDENTIFIED ARE ONES WHERE THEY HADN’T REALLY EXPECTED TO SEE DIFFERENCES. JIM DRYDEN HAS THE STORY… THE RESEARCHERS USED MAGNIETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN THE LARGEST STUDY OF ITS KIND EVER DONE ON PATIENTS WITH TOURETTE’S SYNDROME. IT INVOLVED RESEARCH TEAMS AT SEVERAL CENTERS AROUND THE UNITED STATES. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR KEVIN BLACK, A PSYCHIATRIST AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IN ST. LOUIS, SAYS THE RESEARCHERS ANALYZED MRI BRAIN SCANS C