University of Utah Health Care (UUHC) has been designated by the National Tourette Syndrome Association as a Center of Excellence in the United States. The designation will be announced at the second annual Tourette Syndrome (TS) Education Day. The event, hosted by UUHC's Clinical Neurosciences Center, is an opportunity for individuals and their families who are affected by Tourette syndrome to learn more about the condition in an open forum.
Along with University of Utah Health Care, the National Tourette Syndrome Association named nine other premier health care facilities, research centers and academic institutions located across the country to as centers of excellence for their effort to improve or build high-level care for individuals living with the disorder.
Among the 10 Tourette Syndrome Association Centers of Excellence, are a consortium of individual Centers located within a single state and a network of participating institutions located across several regional states, which will collaborate extensively to meet the many needs of the Tourette Syndrome community.
Tourette Syndrome is a neurological condition that causes children, teens, and adults to make sounds and movements that they don't want to make and cannot control. The symptoms range from repetitive movements to unwanted sounds. This may include repeatedly blinking your eyes, shrugging your shoulders or jerking your head. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the neurological disorder affects 1 out of every 360 children 6-17 years of age.
About the National Tourette Syndrome Association
Founded in 1972, the national Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) is the only national, voluntary health organization serving the Tourette Syndrome community. The TSA has a three-pronged mission to identify the cause of, control the effects of, and to find a cure for Tourette Syndrome through education, research and service. The TSA directs a network of 32 Chapters and more than 55 support groups across the country.