Assessment of executive functioning in children and young adults treated for frontal lobe tumours using ecologically valid tests

Abstract

There is a lack of studies assessing executive functions (EF) using ecologically valid tests in children with frontal lobe lesions. This study aimed to (1) evaluate EF in children, adolescents and young adults treated for childhood frontal lobe tumours, (2) identify factors influencing performance, such as age at diagnosis or type of treatment, and (3) examine correlations between intellectual ability and classical and ecological tests of EF. Twenty-one patients, aged 8-27 years, treated for a childhood benign or malignant frontal lobe tumour, and 42 healthy controls (matched for gender, age and socio-economic status) were assessed using classical tests of EF, and the BADS-C ecological battery. Patients also underwent assessment of intellectual ability and parent and teacher ratings of the BRIEF questionnaire. IQ scores ranged from 45 to 125 (mean FSIQ = 84) and were lower in case of epilepsy, hydrocephalus and lower parental education. Patients displayed deficits in most, but not all measures of EF. Most classical and ecological measures of EF were strongly correlated to IQ. This study confirms the frequency of EF deficits in this population; it also highlights the utility of ecological measures of EF and some limitations of classical tests of EF in children.

Tools for the assessment of neuropsychomotor profile in the rehabilitation of children with central nervous system tumor: a systematic review

“…Finally, 35 articles (30 full text and 5 abstracts) reporting on pediatric oncologic rehabilitation ATs were selected. 15–49 Four systematic reviews were excluded. 50–53 A total of 26 of the 35 included articles were carried out in the neuro-oncology field.…”

Social competence in newly diagnosed pediatric brain tumor patients

“…These concerns are supported by retrospective studies in BT survivors that indicated significant deficits in social˗ affective and executive functioning and social adjustment several years after treatment. 4,[7][8][9][10]…”

“…cognitive functions needed for efficient and goal-directed behavior) have also been shown in BT patients after treatment. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12] The few pretreatment studies on social adjustment or (parent rated) executive functioning reported group scores within the normal range. [13][14][15] So far, none of the studies examined socialaffective and executive functioning (using neuropsychological tests) as well as social adjustment in newly diagnosed BT patients before the start of adjuvant therapy.…”

White matter hyperintensities relate to executive dysfunction, apathy, but not disinhibition in long-term adult survivors of pediatric cerebellar tumor

“…Prior work has linked WMH burden to reduced intellectual, math, and processing speed performance ( Aleksonis et al, 2021 , Fouladi et al, 2004 ), but other cognitive outcomes have not yet been explored. In particular, executive dysfunction, apathy, and disinhibition are at risk in survivors ( Fox and King, 2016 , Kautiainen et al, 2021 , Krivitzky et al, 2016 , Longaud-Valès et al, 2016 ), and are associated with reduced white matter integrity ( Ailion et al, 2017 , Ailion et al, 2019 , King et al, 2019 , King et al, 2015 ). As reduced white matter integrity is a consequence of WMHs ( Alber et al, 2019 , Merino, 2019 ), it is possible that there is a relationship between WMHs and executive functions in survivors.…”