title: Neurocognitive findings in Prader-Willi syndrome and early-onset morbid obesity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether early-onset morbid obesity is associated with cognitive impairment, neuropathologic changes, and behavioral problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study compared head MRI scans and cognitive, achievement, and behavioral evaluations of subjects with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), early-onset morbid obesity (EMO), and normal-weight sibling control subjects from both groups. Head MRI was done on 17 PWS, 18 EMO, and 21 siblings, and cognitive, achievement, and behavioral evaluations were done on 19 PWS, 17 EMO, and 24 siblings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean General Intellectual Ability score of the EMO group was 77.4 +/- 17.8; PWS, 63.3 +/- 14.2; and control subjects, 106.4 +/- 13.0. Achievement scores for the three groups were EMO, 78.7 +/- 18.8; PWS, 71.2 +/- 17.0; and control subjects, 104.8 +/- 17.0. Significant negative behaviors and poor adaptive skills were found in the EMO group. White matter lesions were noted on brain MRI in 6 subjects with PWS and 5 with EMO. None of the normal-weight control subjects had these findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals with EMO have significantly lower cognitive function and more behavioral problems than control subjects with no history of childhood obesity. Both EMO and PWS subjects have white matter lesions on brain MRI that have not previously been described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and the Center for Mammalian Genetics, University of Florida, College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0296, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kranzler
authors.forename: Yijun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ilona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schmalfuss
authors.forename: Douglas W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Theriaque
authors.forename: Jonathan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Shuster
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hatfield
authors.forename: O Thomas
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Anthony P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Goldstone
authors.forename: Trilochan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sahoo
authors.forename: Arthur L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Beaudet
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Driscoll
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000886:Anthropometry; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002884:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 / Q000235:genetics; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D011218:Prader-Willi Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000235:genetics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: C470072:MC4R protein, human; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4