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Comparative analysis of autistic traits and behavioral disorders in Prader-Willi syndrome and Asperger disorder

Dae Kwang Song1, Masayuki Sawada, Shingo Yokota

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Dokkyo Medical University, School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan; Hannan Hospital, Osaka, Japan.

American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part A
|November 13, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) show lower intelligence than those with Asperger disorder (AD). Autistic traits in PWS become more pronounced with age, differing from AD.

Area of Science:

  • Neurogenetics
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Child Psychology

Background:

  • Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex neuro-genetic disorder.
  • PWS results from the loss of paternally expressed genes on chromosome 15 (q11-13).
  • Understanding PWS cognitive and behavioral profiles is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To comparatively analyze intelligence levels and autistic traits in children with PWS versus Asperger disorder (AD).
  • To investigate age-related changes in autistic traits within PWS and AD cohorts.
  • To differentiate the nature of autistic traits between PWS and AD.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of intelligence and autistic traits.
  • Participants: 30 children with PWS and 31 children with AD, stratified by age groups (6-8, 9-12, 13-15 years).
  • Autistic traits assessed using the Pervasive Developmental Disorders Autism Society Japan Rating Scale (PARS).

Main Results:

  • Children with PWS exhibited significantly lower intelligence levels than those with AD across all age groups.
  • Elementary school-aged children with PWS had less prominent autistic traits than those with AD.
  • Middle school-aged children with PWS and AD showed similar prominence of autistic traits, though profiles differed at younger ages.

Conclusions:

  • Autistic traits in Prader-Willi syndrome gradually increase in prominence with age.
  • The fundamental nature of autistic traits in PWS appears distinct from those observed in Asperger disorder.
  • Age-related developmental trajectories of autistic traits differ between PWS and AD.

Keywords:
Asperger disorderPrader-Willi syndromeautismintelligence

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