Childhood caffeine tic syndrome

Objective, To determine whether caffeine ingestion was temporally correlated with ties in 2 healthy children. Methods. Two first-degree cousins were observed over a period of similar to 3 years, and the presence and absence of ties was recorded and correlated with consumption of or abstinence from caffeinated foods or beverages. Results. Appearance and disappearance of ties were closely and clearly temporally correlated with ingestion and elimination of caffeine in the cousins' diets. Conclusions. Our observations suggest that caffeine may precipitate ties in susceptible children.