Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Neurofibromatosis Type 1: Evaluation with a Continuous Performance Test

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Clinical Psychology
• Genetics

Background:

• Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder.
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder.
• Co-occurrence of NF1 and ADHD is frequently observed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of the MOXO continuous performance test in distinguishing patients with NF1 (with or without ADHD characteristics) from controls.
• To investigate if the MOXO test can differentiate between NF1 and ADHD.

Main Methods:

• The MOXO visual- and vocal-distractors-based continuous performance test was administered to 35 patients with NF1.
• Performance was compared to 532 healthy, age-matched control subjects.
• Statistical analyses were performed to identify group differences and patterns.

Main Results:

• Patients with NF1 performed significantly worse on the MOXO test compared to controls.
• The NF1 group showed significantly more failures to respond to targets amidst visual distractors.
• Impulsivity and hyperactivity were more pronounced in males than females within the NF1 cohort.

Conclusions:

• MOXO test scores are significantly altered in individuals with NF1.
• The MOXO test cannot reliably differentiate between NF1 with ADHD characteristics and ADHD alone.
• Visual distractor overreactivity may contribute to attention deficits in NF1, with notable sex differences in ADHD symptoms.