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Clinical neurological abnormalities in young adults with Asperger syndrome
Author(s) -
TANI PEKKA,
LINDBERG NINA,
APPELBERG BJÖRN,
NIEMINENVON WENDT TAINA,
VON WENDT LENNART,
PORKKAHEISKANEN TARJA
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2006.01494.x
Subject(s) - asperger syndrome , neurological examination , pediatrics , autism , psychology , young adult , autism spectrum disorder , rating scale , neurodevelopmental disorder , psychiatry , medicine , developmental psychology
Children with Asperger syndrome (AS), a neurodevelopmental disorder falling in the autism spectrum disorders, have an increased rate of neurological abnormalities, especially in motor coordination. While AS is a lifelong condition, little is known about the persistence of neurological abnormalities in adulthood. Twenty young adults with AS were compared with 10 healthy controls using a structured clinical neurological rating scale. The score for neurological abnormalities was higher in the AS group. In addition, a subscore for neurological soft signs indicating defective functioning of the central nervous system with a non‐localizing value was significantly higher in the AS subjects. This preliminary study indicates that neurological abnormalities, soft signs in particular, represent a non‐specific vulnerability factor for AS. Consistent with other features of AS, neurological abnormalities seem to persist into adulthood.