Do Tourette's tics increase after middle age?

[argand]

I'm 44 with tourette's since I was 7. I tried a couple meds years ago, but It's fairly manageable since adulthood. One of the consolations has been (I thought) that it wouldn't get worse and could possibly diminish with age. For the past month, my tics have doubled with no major changes in my life. I figure it could be hormonal and when I looked that up I found that other men and women have worsening tics with age.....I appreciate any comments from your experiences.

[mary61]

When my son was diagnosed, he was a teenager and his tics were quite bad, but once he passed puberty his tics settled, and this seems to have been a bit of a common thread with other ticcers we have known. It seems entirely credible to me that as we women get older and start approaching the menopause, the hormone fluctuations will affect your tics. You may be at the beginning of the menopause but your doctor can do a test to confirm. If you are then you may want to consider HRT to help.

[argand]

If any male or female has direct experience with tics increasing beyond middle age, I would appreciate hearing from you.

[Eadweard in reply to argand]

Hi. I'm a male aged 48. I had Tourette's type symptoms without the tics as a child and younger person. This throws people who think TS is all about the tics. It was not treated or , by and large, even known about. In the past ten years or so I have developed very obvious motor and phonic tics. This is not typical for TS, but my life is definitely effected by it. It is managed somewhat using clonidine.

[Carolbale in reply to Eadweard]

Hi my sons had Tourettes since diognosis at age 7 . He tried various meds but clinodine is the one he went back to as the one worked best for him. Now 25 still I. Them but does worry about what it may have done to his body over the year! Settles 60 % of Tics but still struggles daily .

Wanted to ask how you manage to find permanent employment and keep the job ? This is where he is struggling at the monent. Temp work is all he can manage .

[Eadweard in reply to Carolbale]

Hi. Two things have helped, one is that I have been in the same job while I've got worse, but mostly it's thanks to me working in a Child and adolescent mental health team. Given that we work with young people with tics they can't very well condemn me! I now give talks to professionals, young people and their families about Tourette's, which they report as finding very helpful.

[luebcke92 in reply to Carolbale]

I have Tourretts and I am a professional welder, father and husband. I don't take meds for y tics. I deal with as much as I can. I encourage your son to try harder.

[rickcricow]

Argand, I am 65 and have been convinced since I was in my late forties, that my tics increased. It may be that being older, I'm more tired. I'm also more aware of my tics. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 25.

[Eadweard in reply to rickcricow]

I certainly feel the motor ticks more nowadays!