Question: Our grandson has been diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome. What causes it?
Dr. Blaylock's Answer:
We do not fully understand the cause, even though it is related to the same neuropathology that causes obsessive-compulsive disorders — the same brain regions appear to be involved and they share many of the same symptoms. It is an inherited disorder but the inheritance is quite complex. Males tend to have more of a problem with tics, and females with obsessive-compulsive behavior.
Some parents have had great success with a combination of dietary methods and special supplements. Most important is avoiding sugar, inflammatory oils (corn, safflower, sunflower, peanut, soybean, and canola oils) and excitotoxic food additives (MSG, hydrolyzed proteins, soy foods and isolates, caseinates, natural flavoring, carrageenan, autolyzed yeast, and protein isolates and concentrates), high-protein bars and shakes, and aspartame-containing foods and drinks.
All food dyes should be avoided in foods and medications. Avoid caffeine and seudoephedrine (as with Sudafed). Avoid all fluoride. Important supplements include phospholipids (such as lecithin), DHA, magnesium, curcumin, and a balanced multivitamin/mineral.
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