Objective: Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is a genetic syndrome that affects cognitive, behavioral, and social development. Nonliteral language (NLL) comprehension has not been examined in children with NF1. This study examined NLL comprehension in children with NF1 and associated neuropsychological correlates.
Method: NLL comprehension was examined in children with NF1 ( = 49) and typically developing (TD) controls ( = 27) aged 4-12 years using a novel NLL task. The task assessed comprehension of sarcasm, metaphor, simile, and literal language. Cognitive (Wechsler Scales Composites or the Woodcock-Johnson Test of Cognitive Abilities Revised scaled scores) and behavioral (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] symptoms) correlates of NLL comprehension in children with NF1 were also examined.
Results: Children with NF1 demonstrated significantly poorer sarcasm comprehension than TD children and a vulnerability in metaphor comprehension. Simile and literal language comprehension were not significantly different between groups. Working memory difficulties and impulsive/hyperactive ADHD symptoms were associated with a reduced ability to identify sarcasm in NF1, while verbal comprehension, fluid reasoning, and inattentive ADHD symptoms were not.
Conclusions: Results suggest children with NF1 experience challenges in understanding complex NLL comprehension, which are related to reduced working memory and increased impulsivity/hyperactivity. This study provides an initial insight into the figurative language abilities of children with NF1, which should be examined in relation to their social difficulties in future studies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/neu0000916 | DOI Listing |
BMC Pediatr
January 2025
Department of Orthopedics, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, No.56, Nanlishi Road, Beijing, 100045, China.
Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder affecting multiple systems. However, arterial stenosis is a rare manifestation in patients with NF1. Since the symptoms of arterial stenosis caused by NF1 are often atypical and have a high under-diagnosis rate, this can lead to serious complications such as hypertension, ischemic stroke, or even death.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAppl Neuropsychol Child
January 2025
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, Korea.
Visuomotor function impairment is commonly observed in individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). In this case report, a 13-year-old child diagnosed with NF1 and impaired visuomotor skills participated in an 8-week tablet computer-based cognitive training for visuomotor function. The Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration, 6th Edition (VMI-6) and the Korean Smartphone Addiction Proneness Scale for Youth were administered before and after the intervention to assess effectiveness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancers (Basel)
January 2025
Sophia, Department of General Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Background: Plexiform neurofibromas (PNs) are histologically benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and often lead to significant morbidity due to growth. Management includes watchful waiting, surgery for partial debulking, and, since recently, systemic treatment with MEK inhibitors. However, due to the scarcity of natural history studies, our understanding of the natural progression of PNs to guide clinicians in deciding in whom and when to intervene is scarce.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
January 2025
Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY 10065.
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive sarcomas and the primary cause of mortality in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). These malignancies develop within preexisting benign lesions called plexiform neurofibromas (PNs). PNs are solely driven by biallelic loss eliciting RAS pathway activation, and they respond favorably to MEK inhibitor therapy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJBJS Case Connect
October 2024
Department of Orthopaedics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Case: An 8-year-old girl with NF1 and congenital tibial dysplasia with significant bilateral tibial bowing underwent McFarland procedures. Now age 22 with 14-year follow-up indicating sustained correction and healing of her bilateral limb deformities.
Conclusion: This case illustrates the McFarland procedure provided adequate corrective treatment of this deformity and remains a success at long-term follow-up.
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