Cognitive and behavioral outcomes in individuals with a history of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM).

We describe cognitive and behavioral outcomes in 12 males and 7 females diagnosed with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) in childhood. Age at assessment ranged from 6 to 23 years and all participants were at least 2 years post-ADEM presentation (mean 5.4 years). Performance was compared with 18 control subjects. Three of 19 ADEM patients met criteria for cognitive impairment, defined as performance falling ≤1.5 SD on at least three tests. Age at ADEM-onset was not associated with outcome. Despite the transient nature of the illness and absence of persistent physical disability, cognitive sequelae occur in some individuals following childhood ADEM.