No one is absolutely sure what causes Tourette's syndrome, but current research suggests that tics associated with Tourette's are partly caused by abnormal activity in the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin (natural chemicals in the brain that carry information from one brain cell to another).
Scientists also think that unusual activity in certain sections of the brain (such as the cortex, basal ganglia and frontal lobes) may be linked to Tourette's, but a lot more research must be conducted before any definite conclusions can be made.
What HAS been proven is that these incorrect levels of neurotransmitters in Tourette's patients are at least partially genetic, meaning that a person with Tourette's syndrome may pass the disorder onto his or her children.
