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Clinical Phenotype of Adult Fragile X Gray Zone Allele Carriers: a Case Series

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Abstract

Considerable research has focused on patients with trinucleotide (CGG) repeat expansions in the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene that fall within either the full mutation (>200 repeats) or premutation range (55–200 repeats). Recent interest in individuals with gray zone expansions (41–54 CGG repeats) has grown due to reported phenotypes that are similar to those observed in premutation carriers, including neurological, molecular, and cognitive signs. The purpose of this manuscript is to describe a series of adults with FMR1 alleles in the gray zone presenting with movement disorders or memory loss. Gray zone carriers ascertained in large FMR1 screening studies were identified and their clinical phenotypes studied. Thirty-one gray zone allele carriers were included, with mean age of symptom onset of 53 years in patients with movement disorders and 57 years in those with memory loss. Four patients were chosen for illustrative case reports and had the following diagnoses: early-onset Parkinson disease (PD), atypical parkinsonism, dementia, and atypical essential tremor. Some gray zone carriers presenting with parkinsonism had typical features, including bradykinesia, rigidity, and a positive response to dopaminergic medication. These patients had a higher prevalence of peripheral neuropathy and psychiatric complaints than would be expected. The patients seen in memory clinics had standard presentations of cognitive impairment with no apparent differences. Further studies are necessary to determine the associations between FMR1 expansions in the gray zone and various phenotypes of neurological dysfunction.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by R01NS052487 (DAH). We thank the patients who participated in these studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Sarah M. Debrey

  2. Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA

    Maureen A. Leehey & Olga Klepitskaya

  3. Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA

    Christopher M. Filley & Benzi Kluger

  4. Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA

    Christopher M. Filley

  5. Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Raj C. Shah

  6. Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Elizabeth Berry-Kravis

  7. Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University, 1725 West Harrison Street, Suite 755, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA

    Elizabeth Berry-Kravis & Deborah A. Hall

  8. Denver Genetics DNA Diagnostic Laboratory at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado-Denver, Aurora, CO, USA

    Elaine Spector

  9. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California School of Medicine, Davis, CA, USA

    Flora Tassone

  10. M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California-Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA

    Flora Tassone

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  1. Sarah M. Debrey
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  2. Maureen A. Leehey
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  3. Olga Klepitskaya
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  4. Christopher M. Filley
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  5. Raj C. Shah
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  7. Elizabeth Berry-Kravis
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  8. Elaine Spector
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  9. Flora Tassone
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  10. Deborah A. Hall
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Correspondence to Deborah A. Hall.

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Debrey, S.M., Leehey, M.A., Klepitskaya, O. et al. Clinical Phenotype of Adult Fragile X Gray Zone Allele Carriers: a Case Series. Cerebellum 15, 623–631 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-016-0809-6

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