Characteristics of intellectual development in children diagnosed with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita.

This study investigates how congenital motor disorders affect cognition by analyzing intelligence in children with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC), a condition featuring joint contractures without CNS involvement. Unlike other motor disorders, AMC offers a unique model to study movement restriction's isolated cognitive effects. The study included 32 children diagnosed with AMC and a control group of 33 healthy children. To assess cognitive development, we administered the Culture-Free Intelligence Test (CFIT; GFT 2) to measure fluid intelligence, along with the Block Design, Similarities, and Vocabulary subtests from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) to evaluate visual-spatial, abstract-logical, and verbal intelligence, respectively. Comparative assessments of verbal and non-verbal intelligence in 6-15-year-olds revealed lower general and verbal-logical scores in AMC children, with gaps diminishing by adolescence. Non-verbal disparities emerged later, suggesting compensatory reorganization. Key finding: hand motor impairment-not overall severity-best predicted cognitive delays, emphasizing object manipulation's role in early development. Results advocate for dual motor-cognitive interventions and refined diagnostic frameworks to distinguish AMC's neuropsychological profile from other locomotor disorders.