NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF MARFAN-SYNDROME

We evaluated the neuropsychological status of 13 adult patients with M arfan syndrome. All subjects were administered the same neuropsycholog ical test battery that included nine measures covering a broad range o f cognitive abilities such as attention and concentration, learning an d memory, and verbal and non-verbal abilities. Compared to a control g roup of 13 normal healthy subjects matched for sex, age and verbal int elligence, Marfan patients only performed significantly worse on tests measuring sustained visual attention and visuoconstruction. Although these tests use visual material and depend on visual perception and pr ocessing, the visual acuity problems associated with the syndrome coul d not explain these differences, nor could the use of beta-blocking me dication or the presence of joint hypermobility. The findings suggest that problems with sustained visual attention and visuoconstruction ma y be present in Marfan syndrome over and above visual acuity problems and other phenomena associated with the disease. Further research on t he neuropsychological aspects of Marfan syndrome is needed, using larg er patient groups and more adequate control groups such as non-affecte d siblings and matched controls with similar visual impairment.