My brother has tourettes and his tics are happening more often..what does that mean?

Increasing tics: In tourette syndrome, tics wax and wane over time. Your brother may be in a phase of increase. Tics can be exacerbated by stress and emotional states. He should consult a neurologist for help with his tics and management.

Among other things: ...Strep throats sometimes exacerbate tics, this is called pandas. I usually test for strep in cases like this.