Attention and Motor Learning in Adult Patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Abstract

Objective: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that is associated with cognitive disabilities, including attention and motor learning problems. These disabilities have been extensively studied in children with NF1 but limited studies have been performed in adults. Method: Attention, motor learning and intellectual performance were studied with neuropsychological tasks in 32 adults with NF1 and 32 controls. Results: The NF1 and control group performed similarly on attention and motor learning tasks, although controls had shorter reaction times than adults with NF1 during the motor learning task ( t[60] = −2.20, p = .03). Measures of attention or motor learning were not significantly associated with reduced intellectual performance in NF1. Conclusion: In contrast to many studies in children with NF1, our findings did not provide evidence for presence of attention or motor learning problems in adults with NF1 in neuropsychological tasks. Our observations may be of clinical importance to determine treatment focus in adults with NF1.

Visual–spatial and visuomotor functioning in adults with neurofibromatosis type 1

“…Furthermore, a previous study observed no abnormalities on attention tasks in adults with NF1, in contrast to findings in children with NF1 (Castricum, Tulen, Taal, et al . 2022). However, it is known that the intelligence quotient is lower‐than‐average for NF1 (Hyman et al .…”

“…In a previous study, a lower‐than‐average IQ was reported in a similar group of NF1 as the present study (Castricum, Tulen, Taal, et al . 2022). In the present study, we have added educational attainment as a covariate in all analyses.…”

“…Additionally, adults with NF1 were slower in their hand movements in a motor skill learning task (Castricum, Tulen, Taal, et al . 2022). Therefore, adults with NF1 may suffer from deficits in the integration of the visual and motor system.…”

Cerebellar associative learning is not affected in a mouse model of neurofibromatosis type 1

“…The clinical diagnosis is primarily based on distinct neurocutaneous characteristics 2,3 , yet the majority of NF1 patients also show a neurodevelopmental phenotype that affects the cognitive, behavioral and social domains [4][5][6] . In addition, about half of NF1 patients report problems in ne and gross motor function, as well as motor learning [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] . These problems in the motor domain have also been established in NF1 mouse models 14 .…”

Cerebellum-dependent associative learning is not impaired in a mouse model of neurofibromatosis type 1

“…The clinical diagnosis is primarily based on distinct neurocutaneous characteristics 2,3 , yet the majority of NF1 patients also show a neurodevelopmental phenotype that affects the cognitive, behavioral and social domains 4-6 . In addition, about half of NF1 patients report problems in fine and gross motor function, as well as motor learning [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] . These problems in the motor domain have also been established in NF1 mouse models 14 .The cerebellum, an essential brain structure for motor control, has been repeatedly suggested as a potential contributor to NF1-related motor problems for several reasons.…”