Neuropsychological intervention in attention and visuospatial skills in two patients with Williams syndrome with different types of genetic deletion

Abstract

Williams Syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a distinctive physical, cognitive, and behavioral profile caused by a microdeletion in the q11.23 region of chromosome 7. The neuropsychological profile of WS is characterized by intellectual disability, hypersociability, and deficits, especially in attention and visuospatial skills. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of a neuropsychological intervention program in attention and visuospatial skills in two patients with WS (aged 7 and 13 years old) with different types of deletion (1.5 and 1.8 Mb). Cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive abilities were evaluated through various neuropsychological tests and scales; the neuropsychological intervention program was subsequently applied, and we assessed its effectiveness. Both patients initially presented significant deficits in attention and visuospatial skills. After the program, we found improvements in attention and visuospatial skills. In addition, both patients had significant clinical advances and changes in adaptive behaviors (social and self-care). These findings suggest that this intervention program could improve attention processes, visuospatial skills, and some aspects of adaptive behavior in patients with WS, regardless of deletion size. Although the sample was small, limiting the generalizability of the results, we believe this program could be a helpful resource for professionals working with individuals with WS.

Keywords:

• Attention
• neuropsychological intervention
• neuropsychology
• visuospatial skills
• Williams syndrome

Acknowledgments

Programa de Apoyo de Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (PAPIIT) DGAPA-UNAM IN308719 de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. BECAS NACIONALES DE CONACYT CVU 926999 de Cintia Michelle Domínguez-García.

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.