Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder that can cause tumors to develop along nerves and can affect the skin, bones, brain and nervous system. It can also be associated with learning, attention, behavioral and other developmental challenges. Children with NF1 frequently experience symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), but the severity and presentation of these symptoms can vary across individuals and ages.

A new study published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology by Assistant Professor Yang Hou, Ph.D., Research Scientist Jiaxiu Song, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar Dan Liu, Ph.D., and colleagues examined how ADHD symptoms vary across childhood and adolescence in children with NF1. Researchers analyzed data from 904 assessments of 656 children across eight institutions to examine age-related patterns and different presentations in ADHD symptoms.

The findings showed that ADHD symptoms were elevated across ages 3–17, with the greatest symptom burden occurring around 10 years of age. Researchers identified four distinct symptom profiles: Typical (46%), Severe Combined (22%), Mild Combined (20%) and Predominantly Inattentive (12%). More severe symptom presentations were also more common among girls and children from families with lower parental education.

These findings highlight the variation in ADHD presentation among children with NF1 and underscore the importance of early recognition, ongoing monitoring and individualized support. The study is part of an international collaborative effort to pool and harmonize data across institutions to better understand cognition, behavior and mental health in children and adolescents with NF1.