Cognitive outcomes in early-treated adults with phenylketonuria (PKU): A comprehensive picture across domains

Abstract

Objective: Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inherited metabolic disease which affects cognitive functions due to an inability to metabolize phenylalanine which leads to the accumulation of toxic by-products (Phe) in the brain. PKU can be effectively treated with a low phenylalanine diet, but some cognitive deficits remain. Studies have reported impairments, especially for processing speed and executive functions, but there is a lack of comprehensive assessment across cognitive domains. Moreover, it is important to establish outcomes in early treated adults with PKU (AwPKU) who have better metabolic control than groups previously reported in the literature. Method: We tested 37 AwPKU with an unprecedented number of tasks (N = 28) and measures (N = 44) and compared results with 30 controls matched for age and education. Results: We found (a) group impairments, particularly in tasks tapping speed of processing and complex executive functions; (b) high variability across participants, with a sizable number of AwPKU with completely normal performance (about 38%); (c) but also a sizable number of participants who were clearly impaired (about 24%); and (d) good performance in tasks tapping verbal learning, verbal memory and orthographic processing, indicating no generalized learning impairment. Conclusion: Our results indicate good outcomes, but also that deficits are still present with current treatment policies. General Scientific Summary: This study has advanced our understanding of the cognitive outcome in adults with phenylketonuria (AwPKU), highlighting the success, but also some limitations, of the clinical management. Our results indicate extreme variability across participants and across cognitive domains. As a group, AwPKU showed good performance in learning tasks, but reduced speed of processing and complex executive function deficits. This calls for a better understanding of what causes these impairments.