Variability in FMRP and early development in males with fragile X syndrome.

To test the hypothesis that variability in development in fragile X syndrome is related to FMRP (the protein deficient in this syndrome expression), we studied 53 males between 23 and 98 months of age. For the entire group, which included males with either mosaism, partially methylated full mutation, and fully methylated full mutation, FMRP expression ranged from 1% to 40% and accounted for a small but significant amount of variance in level, but not rate, of total development as well as motor, social, adaptive, cognitive, and language development. For males with a fully methylated full mutation, the association was in the hypothesized direction, but not statistically significant. Findings support the hypothesized relationship between FMRP and individual capabilities but suggest that other factors also play a major role.