Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is a common genetic disorder that is associated with a four
times greater risk of learning disabilities, including reading disabilities, and a deficiency
of neurofibromin - a protein important in a signaling pathway that regulates learning and
memory. Our previous work (NS49096) demonstrated that school-age children with NF+RD can
respond to standard phonologically-based reading tutoring originally developed to treat
reading disability in the general population. Combining our work with that by other
researchers suggesting that a medication (Lovastatin) may counteract the effects of the
deficient neurofibromin, and possibly ameliorate learning disabilities in NF1, the
investigator propose to examine the synergistic effects of medication plus reading tutoring.
Phase:
Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Vanderbilt University
Collaborator:
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)