Remote Neurocognitive and Psychological Assessment in PKU

PKU is a rare autosomal recessive condition associated with disruption in dopamine synthesis. Although early diagnosis and treatment prevent the severe impairments associated with untreated PKU, individuals with early-treated PKU (ETPKU) nonetheless experience significant sequelae, including impaired working memory and increased risk for anxiety problems. Past research with other clinical populations (e.g., generalized anxiety disorder) suggests that the two phenomena may be linked, with increased anxiety contributing to poorer WM performance. Currently we propose to initiate an exciting new line of research examining the potential relationship between anxiety and WM in ETPKU. The proposed study will also apply remote neuropsychological performance-based assessment to the study of ETPKU and thus overcoming the geographical limitations/challenges associated with recruitment of participants with this rare disease.