Cognitive evaluation in adult patients with Möbius syndrome

To establish the occurrence of mental retardation in a group of patients with Möbius syndrome and subsequently, if mental retardation is absent, to screen major aspects of memory and attention, in order to assess possible pervasive dysfunction in these cognitive domains which might be responsible for the current view that mental retardation occurs frequently in Möbius syndrome.

In a group of 12 Dutch Möbius patients, intellectual performance, memory function and attention were assessed using a number of standardized neuropsychological tests.

The mean general intellectual performance did not differ significantly from that of the Dutch population. Screening of selective attention and memory did not provide indications of pervasive dysfunctions in these domains.

The rate of occurrence of mental retardation in our group of Möbius patients did not differ from that in the normal Dutch population. Furthermore, there was no evidence of attention and memory dysfunction in our group of Möbius patients.