The summer is winding down, back-to-school shopping is inevitable and parent-teacher conferences are right around the corner. With the laid-back atmosphere of the summer, it can be difficult for children with Tourette syndrome (TS), as well as their parents to get transition back to the structured setting of school. When…
In June of 2017, researchers have located highly genetic risk indicators for Tourette syndrome (TS). A study, funded by the Tourette Association of America (TAA), the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), was completed which analyzed over 2,400 people…
What are the early signs of Parkinson’s? What are motor fluctuations? A new podcast from the Parkinson’s Foundation (the new name for the National Parkinson’s Foundation) aims to answer these questions and more. The podcast is called “Substantial Matters” and Dr. Michael Okun and…
Blepharospasm Possible Treatments: Botox and Rose-Tinted Glasses By: Wissam Deeb, M.D. & Aparna Wagle Shukla, M.D. Blepharospasm is the scientific name given to excessive involuntary forced eye blinking. It is one type of a large group of disorders called dystonias1. Dystonia is abnormal contraction/spasm of the muscles that result in…
May 15-June 15 is designated at the national Tourette Association’s Tourette Awareness Month. During this time, parents, kids, teachers, physicians, EVERYONE is encouraged to support awareness and break the stigma of tic disorders and Tourette syndrome. The North Central Florida Tourette syndrome Support Group participated in several events…
Is Focused Ultrasound a possible replacement for Deep Brain Stimulation? MedPage Today wrote a nice summary of the debate that took place last week at the American Academy of Neurology meeting. Neal Kassell, MD, from presented in favor of focused ultrasound while our own Michael Okun, MD, presented against it.
Those affected by Tourette syndrome (TS) face a unique set of difficulties at school. In addition to facing the challenges with the motor or vocal tics themselves, the co-occurring conditions that are often associated can make the school environment very challenging. Often times, students with TS and their families report…
Written by Frank Vickory SPT, CSCS Parkinson’s Disease (PD) generally presents with some combination of four cardinal signs: Bradykinesia (slow movements), rigidity, resting tremor and postural instability. However, there are secondary symptoms of PD that can occur in many patients. One of the most common and potentially dangerous symptoms is…
At the UF Health Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration, the patient is the sun and our clinical team revolves around the patient. A major goal for our website has always been to provide useful information to patients with movement disorders, even if those patients aren’t our own. In 2016,…
“New Year’s Day. A fresh start. A new chapter in life waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in this transformative year of delight and self-discovery.” (1) Sarah Ban Breathnach Setting New Year’s Resolutions…
