Cognition, ADHD Symptoms, and Functional Impairment in Children and Adolescents With Neurofibromatosis Type 1

Jonathan M Payne; Kristina M Haebich; Rachel MacKenzie; Karin S Walsh; Stephen J C Hearps; David Coghill; Belinda Barton; Natalie A Pride; Nicole J Ullrich; James H Tonsgard; David Viskochil; Elizabeth K Schorry; Laura Klesse; Michael J Fisher; David H Gutmann; Tena Rosser; Roger J Packer; Bruce Korf; Maria T Acosta; Mark A Bellgrove; Kathryn N North

doi:10.1177/1087054719894384

Cognition, ADHD Symptoms, and Functional Impairment in Children and Adolescents With Neurofibromatosis Type 1

J Atten Disord. 2021 Jun;25(8):1177-1186. doi: 10.1177/1087054719894384. Epub 2019 Dec 14.

Authors

Jonathan M Payne^{1

2}, Kristina M Haebich¹, Rachel MacKenzie³, Karin S Walsh⁴, Stephen J C Hearps¹, David Coghill^{1

2}, Belinda Barton^{5

6}, Natalie A Pride^{5

6}, Nicole J Ullrich⁷, James H Tonsgard⁸, David Viskochil⁹, Elizabeth K Schorry¹⁰, Laura Klesse¹¹, Michael J Fisher¹², David H Gutmann¹³, Tena Rosser¹⁴, Roger J Packer⁴, Bruce Korf¹⁵, Maria T Acosta⁴, Mark A Bellgrove¹⁶, Kathryn N North^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
² University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
³ La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA.
⁵ The Children's Hospital at Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.
⁶ The University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
⁷ Boston Children's Hospital, MA, USA.
⁸ The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital, IL, USA.
⁹ The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.
¹⁰ Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, OH, USA.
¹¹ University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, USA.
¹² Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, PA, USA.
¹³ Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA.
¹⁴ Children's Hospital Los Angeles, CA, USA.
¹⁵ The University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
¹⁶ Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.

PMID: 31838937
DOI: 10.1177/1087054719894384

Abstract

Objective: We examined the contribution of attention and executive cognitive processes to ADHD symptomatology in NF1, as well as the relationships between cognition and ADHD symptoms with functional outcomes. Methods: The study sample consisted of 141 children and adolescents with NF1. Children were administered neuropsychological tests that assessed attention and executive function, from which latent cognitive variables were derived. ADHD symptomatology, adaptive skills, and quality of life (QoL) were assessed using parent-rated questionnaires. Path analyses were conducted to test relationships among cognitive functioning, ADHD symptomatology, and functional outcomes. Results: Significant deficits were observed on all outcome variables. Cognitive variables did not predict ADHD symptomatology. Neither did they predict functional outcomes. However, elevated ADHD symptomatology significantly predicted functional outcomes. Conclusion: Irrespective of cognitive deficits, elevated ADHD symptoms in children with NF1 negatively impact daily functioning and emphasize the importance of interventions aimed at minimizing ADHD symptoms in NF1.

Keywords: ADHD; cognition; executive function; functional impairment; neurofibromatosis type 1.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity* / epidemiology
Child
Cognition
Executive Function
Humans
Neurofibromatosis 1* / complications
Neurofibromatosis 1* / epidemiology
Neuropsychological Tests
Quality of Life