Developing a Tailored Neuropsychological Rehabilitation for Sturge-Weber Syndrome (NPS-SWS)

The goal of this observational study is to learn about the neuropsychological profile of Sturge-Weber Syndrome (SWS) in children and adults with this rare neurocutaneous condition. SWS affects approximately 1 in 50,000 live births and is characterized by brain blood vessel malformations, facial port-wine stains, and abnormal vascularization in the brain, skin, and eyes. Patients are at high risk for epileptic seizures, stroke-like episodes, glaucoma, and motor and cognitive difficulties. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• What are the specific cognitive strengths and weaknesses in visuospatial abilities, working memory, and executive functions in individuals with SWS?
• What is the detailed neuropsychological profile of patients with SWS who do not have intellectual disability?
• Are there different cognitive-behavioral phenotypes between patients with and without the characteristic facial port-wine stain (PWS)?
• How do clinical variables such as seizure history and brain involvement patterns relate to specific cognitive deficits?

Participants will undergo a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment battery that includes:

• Intellectual functioning tests (K-BIT2) to measure verbal and non-verbal intelligence
• Executive function evaluation (BRIEF2) assessing behavioral regulation, emotional regulation, and cognitive regulation
• Language assessment including receptive vocabulary (PPVT) and grammatical comprehension (TCGB-2)
• Visuospatial skills testing (Beery-Buktenica VMI) evaluating visual-motor integration
• Working memory assessment (WISC-IV/WAIS-IV digit span and spatial span subtests)
• Learning abilities evaluation including reading (Battery for the Assessment of - Developmental Dyslexia and Dysorthography), writing, and mathematical skills (ABCA test)
• Additional assessments for attention, verbal memory, and spatial memory as needed

The study will recruit SWS patients through collaboration with patient associations and Telethon support. Participants will continue their standard medical care throughout the study, and all medications and therapies will be recorded. The neuropsychological testing will be conducted at IRCCS San Raffaele and Sapienza University Department of Psychology.

The study aims to identify a cognitive-behavioral phenotype for SWS, develop evidence-based guidelines for neuropsychological monitoring, create personalized recommendations for educational adaptations, produce training materials for healthcare professionals and educators, and establish a multidisciplinary framework for supporting individuals with SWS. This research addresses a critical knowledge gap, as previous studies have focused mainly on general intellectual functioning and the prevalence of intellectual disability and language disorders, without providing detailed neuropsychological profiles, particularly for patients without intellectual disability.