Studies on Families Of Phenylketonurics

Abstract

THERE have been only few studies of the intellectual development and of the electrical activity of the brain in the nonaffected members of the families of phenylketonurics. The occurrence of psychosis and mental retardation in the relatives of phenylketonurics has been noted, but the incidence of both conditions for this group has not been found to be significantly higher than for the general population.¹ One limited study dealing with 22 relatives and parents of phenylketonurics revealed only three subjects who were found to have epileptic electroencephalographic records. Of these three epileptic records, one was found to be due to a previous brain abscess and operation. No other abnormal electroencephalographic records were reported.² The purpose of this study was not to compare—on any basis—families containing phenylketonuric children with families containing no phenylketonuric children, but to ascertain the following two things: the characteristic distribution of intelligence quotients on the one