Wendy V. Browne|Peter C. Hindmarsh|Vickie Pasterski|Ieuan A. Hughes|Carlo L. Acerini|Debra Spencer|Sharon Neufeld|Melissa Hines
Working memory performance is reduced in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia
University of Cambridge|University College London|University of Cambridge|University of Cambridge|University of Cambridge|University of Cambridge|University of Cambridge|University of Cambridge
individuals classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia cah experience impaired glucocorticoid production treated postnatally glucocorticoids prior research animals human populations indicates glucocorticoids influence memory particularly working memory tested hypothesis children cah would show reduced working memory children united kingdom aged 711years classical cah 31 girls 26 boys compared unaffected relatives 30 girls 20 boys test working memory digit span test vocabulary also assessed measure verbal intelligence control purposes children cah showed reduced working memory performance compared controls components digit span test p008 digit span forward p027 digit span backward composite score p004 differences moderate size d53 70 similar differences also seen subset 23 matched pairs children cah relatives d78 92 group differences vocabulary glucocorticoid abnormality including treatment effects could responsible reduced digit span performance children cah factors related cah saltwasting crises could also involved additional research needed identify cause memory reduction help determine rapid diagnosis precise glucocorticoid treatment would help prevent memory reduction educational interventions might also considered children cah