Author:
Duijff Sasja N.,Klaassen Petra W. J.,de Veye Henriette F. N. Swanenburg,Beemer Frits A.,Sinnema Gerben,Vorstman Jacob A. S.
Abstract
BackgroundPeople with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (velo-cardio-facial syndrome) have
a 30-fold risk of developing schizophrenia. In the general population the
schizophrenia phenotype includes a cognitive deficit and a decline in
academic performance preceding the first episode of psychosis in a
subgroup of patients. Findings of cross-sectional studies suggest that
cognitive abilities may decline over time in some children with 22q11.2
deletion syndrome. If confirmed longitudinally, this could indicate that
one or more genes within 22q11.2 are involved in cognitive decline.AimsTo assess longitudinally the change in IQ scores in children with 22q11.2
deletion syndrome.MethodSixty-nine children with the syndrome were cognitively assessed two or
three times at set ages 5.5 years, 7.5 years and 9.5 years.ResultsA mean significant decline of 9.7 Full Scale IQ points was found between
ages 5.5 years and 9.5 years. In addition to the overall relative decline
that occurred when results were scored according to age-specific IQ
norms, in 10 out of a group of 29 children an absolute decrease in
cognitive raw scores was found between ages 7.5 years and 9.5 years. The
decline was not associated with a change in behavioural measures.ConclusionsThe finding of cognitive decline can be only partly explained as the
result of ‘growing into deficit’; about a third of 29 children showed an
absolute loss of cognitive faculties. The results underline the
importance of early psychiatric screening in this population and indicate
that further study of the genes at the 22q11.2 locus may be relevant to
understanding the genetic basis of early cognitive deterioration.
Publisher
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Subject
Psychiatry and Mental health
Cited by
76 articles.
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