University of Oulu

Tiina M Remes, Emma Hovén, Niina Ritari, Heli Pohjasniemi, Riina Puosi, Pekka M Arikoski, Mikko O Arola, Päivi M Lähteenmäki, Tuula R I Lönnqvist, Marja K Ojaniemi, V Pekka Riikonen, Kirsti H Sirkiä, Satu Winqvist, Heikki M J Rantala, Marika Harila, Arja H Harila-Saari, Neurocognitive impairment, employment, and social status in radiotherapy-treated adult survivors of childhood brain tumors, Neuro-Oncology Practice, Volume 8, Issue 3, June 2021, Pages 266–277, https://doi.org/10.1093/nop/npab004

Neurocognitive impairment, employment, and social status in radiotherapy-treated adult survivors of childhood brain tumors

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Author: Remes, Tiina M.1,2; Hovén, Emma3; Ritari, Niina2;
Organizations: 1Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence, PEDEGO Research Unit and Medical Research Center, Oulu University Hospital and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
2Department of Child Neurology, Children’s Hospital, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
3Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
4Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence, Kuopio University Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
5Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital and University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
6Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital, and Turku University, Turku, Finland
7Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence, Helsinki University, and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
8Department of Neurology, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
9Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
Format: article
Version: published version
Access: open
Online Access: PDF Full Text (PDF, 1.3 MB)
Persistent link: http://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi-fe2021082444097
Language: English
Published: Oxford University Press, 2021
Publish Date: 2021-08-24
Description:

Abstract

Background: Little is known of the cognitive functions, employment, and social status in adult survivors of childhood brain tumor (BT). We aimed to determine the long-term neurocognitive profile of radiotherapy-treated adult survivors of childhood BT and the relationship between cognitive functions and employment and social status.

Methods: Neurocognitive profiles of survivors were assessed in a Finnish national cohort of 71 radiotherapy-treated survivors of childhood BT (median follow-up time: 21 years [range: 5–33 years]) using a cross-sectional design. Neurocognitive outcomes were compared to control (n = 45) and normative values. Tumor- and treatment-related data were collected from the patient files. Information on employment and social status was gathered.

Results: Survivors’ (median age: 27 years [range: 16–43 years]) median verbal and performance intelligence quotient (IQ) was 90 (range: 49–121) and 87 (range: 43–119), respectively. The cognitive domains with the greatest impairment were executive functions (median z score, −3.5 SD [range: −25.0 to 1.3 SD]), and processing speed and attention (median z score, −2.5 SD [range: −24.9 to 0.5 SD]). Executive functions were associated with employment, educational level, living independently, having an intimate relationship, and having a driving license. Processing speed and attention were related to educational level, living independently, having an intimate relationship, and having a driving license. Performance IQ was associated with educational level and employment status. Working memory was associated with educational level and living independently.

Conclusions: Radiotherapy-treated adult survivors of childhood BT experience significant neurocognitive impairment, which is associated with difficulties related to employment and social status.

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Series: Neuro-oncology practice
ISSN: 2054-2577
ISSN-E: 2054-2585
ISSN-L: 2054-2577
Volume: 8
Issue: 3
Pages: 266 - 277
DOI: 10.1093/nop/npab004
OADOI: https://oadoi.org/10.1093/nop/npab004
Type of Publication: A1 Journal article – refereed
Field of Science: 3123 Gynaecology and paediatrics
3124 Neurology and psychiatry
3122 Cancers
Subjects:
Funding: Special State Grants for Health Research in the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescence, Oulu University Hospital, Finland (to T.M.R.); the Väre Foundation for Pediatric Cancer Research, Finland (to T.M.R.); the Foundation of Päivikki and Sakari Sohlberg, Finland (to T.M.R.); the Foundation of Arvo and Lea Ylppö, Finland (to T.M.R.); the Foundation for Pediatric Research, Finland (to T.M.R.); the Foundation of Emil Aaltonen, Finland (to T.M.R.); the Cancer Society of Finland (to H.R., A.H.-S. and M.O.); the Foundation of Thelma Mäkikyrö, Finland (to T.M.R.); the Cancer Foundation of Northern Finland (to T.M.R.); the Aamu Finnish Childhood Cancer Foundation (to T.M.R.); the Foundation of Alma and K. A. Snellman, Finland (to T.M.R.); and the Foundation of Märta Donner, Finland (to T.M.R.).
Copyright information: © The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology and the European Association of Neuro-Oncology. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
  https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/