Tourette Syndrome: it affects more celebrities than you think

What are the symptoms and treatments of this curious affliction? We explain everything in the gallery and list some of the celebrities who are affected by this problem.

Tourette's syndrome is an inherited neurological condition that causes physical tics, spasms, and involuntary movements such as blinking, jumping, mouthing, and even cursing out of control.

For those unaware of the carrier's condition, this behavior may be mistaken for voluntary aggression.

Tourette's syndrome usually begins during childhood, between the ages of two and 14. Studies indicate that half of the patients claim that symptoms diminish with age, and for some, they even disappear.

Image: 'The Interview' / Columbia Pictures

Although the disease has no cure, psychological treatments and deep brain stimulation (implantation of electrodes) can palliate it. However, the number of diagnoses is increasing, which causes the pharmaceutical industry to try more and more new options.

In fact, according to the newspaper O Globo, a new treatment is in the testing phase and may be launched soon. It involves a watch-like device that interferes with the brain's networks and sends small electrical discharges to the median nerve in the wrist, interrupting the activity in the brain that causes tics.

According to O Globo, about 135 participants in the United Kingdom are testing a prototype of the device. Tests showed that those who wore the device on their wrist saw the frequency and severity of their tics reduce massively. Doctors hope that the smartwatch will provide a long-term solution for patients.

He was diagnosed in his childhood and has lived with this condition since then. In early 2024, Travis Barker's son Landon revealed that he has Tourette's and that the symptoms intensify in stressful situations.

"Hi, guys! I figured I’d speak on this eventually. But yeah, I actually do have very, very minor Tourette’s," he commented after a follower suggested that Landon Barker could suffer from this disorder.

By making public his condition he wants to raise awareness and reduce the stigma that Tourette Syndrome has in society.

According to The Palm Beach Post, Seth Rogen has said over the past few years that marijuana use has helped him combat Tourette Syndrome and ADHD.

Responding to a controversial tweet from Republican Ted Cruz, he said, "As someone who has Tourette’s in their family (and also has a very mild case himself), I once again take great pleasure in telling you to go F yourself. (Also VERY few cases of Tourette’s manifest in uncontrollable swearing. Most cases, like mine, manifest in twitching.)"

During an interview on the 'Late Show with David Letterman', Billie Eilish was filmed having some tics. Afterward, she explained that reactions usually don't come during concerts, but rather in casual conversations when she's more comfortable.

"If you film me for long enough, you’re going to see a lot of tics. It’s really weird, I haven’t talked about it at all," she said in the show.

"The most common way that people react is they laugh because they think I’m trying to be funny," the singer said. "They think I’m [ticcing] as a funny move. And so they go, ‘Ha,’ and I’m always left incredibly offended by that."

In David Beckham's life, Tourette's Syndrome led him to develop another condition, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

The former football player rarely talks about Tourette's Syndrome, but he's very open about his OCD. As he stated on several TV programs, he cannot rest in hotels before arranging all objects in pairs and putting books and papers away in drawers.

Singer James Durbin was diagnosed with Asperger and Tourette Syndrome after he lost his father as a child. He told CNN that he was bullied and even thought about taking his own life.

"At that point, I was being bullied for being different, having big ears, and now for having no dad, AND for making weird faces and noises I couldn’t control. I was a walking target."

"I didn’t know what to do anymore. I remember I even had thoughts of ... hurting myself," said the singer. In the end, he found his peace in music.

Scottish singer Lewis Capaldi revealed to the English tabloid The Sun that he has been diagnosed with Tourette's Syndrome. He defined the condition as "painful" and "uncomfortable." In his case, his shoulder twitches when he goes through extreme situations.

In February 2023, he suffered an attack in the middle of a show in Frankfurt. The audience noticed and sang to help him finish the song.

Known for his roles in the films 'Ghostbusters' and 'The Blues Brothers', Dan Aykroyd has several neurological issues. In addition to being autistic, he was also diagnosed with Tourette's at the age of 12. However, the actor was able to control his tics through therapy.