Clinical Trial: Defining the Brain Phenotype of Children With Williams Syndrome

Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Observational



Official Title: Defining the Brain Phenotype of Children With Williams Syndrome

Brief Summary:

Background:

- Little is known about how the brain changes during childhood and adolescence, how genes affect this process, or how the brains of people with Williams syndrome change during this period. Genetic features of Williams syndrome affect the brain s development, but the details of this process have not been studied over time. Researchers are interested in using magnetic resonance imaging to study how the brain changes in healthy children and children with Williams syndrome and related genetic disorders.

Objectives:

- To study developmental changes in the brains of healthy children and children who have been diagnosed with Williams syndrome or a related genetic disorder.

Eligibility:

  • Healthy children and adolescents between 5 and 17 years of age.
  • Children and adolescents between 5 and 17 years of age who have been diagnosed with Williams syndrome or genetic characteristics that overlap with Williams syndrome.

Design:

  • Participants will have a brief physical examination and tests of memory, attention, concentration, and thinking. Parents will be asked about their child s personality, behavior characteristics, and social interaction and communication skills.
  • Both participants and their parents may be asked to complete additional questionnaires or take various tests as required for the study.
  • Participants will have approximately 10 hours of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning, usually over 4 to 5