Neuropsychological aspects of tuberous sclerosis in relation to epilepsy and MRI findings.

The neuropsychological performances, outcome of epilepsy and MRI topography of tubers of 23 children with tuberous sclerosis were reviewed. Seven children had normal intelligence, 10 had mental retardation, and six mental retardation and autism. An adverse association was found between the number of lesions and IQ, behaviour and severity of epilepsy. Posterior lesions, in addition to frontal-lobe dysfunction, were observed in children with autism. Tuberous sclerosis with well-defined cerebral lesions may represent a model for the relationship between different neuropsychiatric problems.