NEUROLOGIC FINDINGS IN CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH WILLIAMS-SYNDROME

Twenty-four children with Williams syndrome underwent systematic neuro logic evaluations. Abnormalities of mental status, motor coordination, tone, and gait were most prevalent. Tone abnormalities varied as a fu nction of age, with younger children frequently exhibiting decreased t one and older subjects almost exclusively having increased tone. Tile gait and coordination abnormalities persisted among older subjects, in dicating that they were not simply maturational problems. Physicians c aring for such youngsters need to be aware that a variety of neurologi c abnormalities are common in Williams syndrome and may change or prog ress over time. Neurologic examinations that reveal findings beyond th e typical pattern that we report may raise suspicion for added neurolo gic insult and warrant further investigation.