title: Planning deficit in children with neurofibromatosis type 1: a neurocognitive trait independent from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?
abstract: Neurofibromatosis type 1 is associated with executive dysfunctions and comorbidity with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in 30% to 50% of children. This study was designed to clarify the neurocognitive phenotype observed in neurofibromatosis type 1 by testing the hypothesis that children with neurofibromatosis type 1 have specific planning deficits independently from intellectual level and ADHD comorbidity. Eighteen children with neurofibromatosis type 1 were pair-matched to 18 children with ADHD and 18 healthy controls. All groups were assessed on the presence of ADHD symptoms (Conners Scales) and planning deficits (Tower of London). Compared with control group, groups with neurofibromatosis type 1 and ADHD demonstrated significant impairment of planning and problem solving. The lack of correlation between Tower of London results and Conners subscale scores in neurofibromatosis type 1 group confirmed that the planning and problem-solving deficit is not directly related to inattention level. These findings suggested that the executive impairment probably represents a peculiar trait of neurofibromatosis type 1 neurocognitive phenotype.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Galasso
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy a.locastro@libero.it.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lo-Castro
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Di Carlo
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Bernarda
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Pitzianti
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: D'Agati
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Curatolo
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, Neuroscience Department, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Augusto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pasini
mesh_terms: D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009456:Neurofibromatosis 1 / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
keywords: Tower of London; attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); executive functions; neurofibromatosis type 1; planning