Profile of cognitive function in adults with duchenne muscular dystrophy.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have examined intellectual functioning of boys with duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, little is known about the remaining cognitive weaknesses in adults with DMD.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the profile of cognitive functioning that is characteristics of adults with DMD.

METHODS: Twenty-four subscales from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III (WAIS-III), the Clinical Assessment for Attention (CAT), and the Wechsler Memory Scale Revised (WMS-R) were used to assess participants with DMD (N=15; mean age=30.4years).

RESULTS: Scores for Picture Completion, Arithmetic, Matrix Reasoning, Symbol Search, Letter-Number Sequencing, and Digit Span of the WAIS-III; all CAT scores, and Logical Memory and Delayed Logical Memory from the WMS-R were significantly deficient in adults with DMD in comparison to the normal population.

CONCLUSION: The ability to sequentially process auditory and visual information remains impaired in adults with DMD.