Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Cognitive Fatigue and Processing Speed in Children Treated for Brain Tumours

Irestorm, Elin LU orcid ; Ora, Ingrid LU ; Linge, Helena LU and Tonning Olsson, Ingrid LU orcid (2021) In Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society 27(9). p.865-874
Abstract
Objective:

The relationship between fatigue and cognition has not been fully elucidated in children and adolescent survivors of brain tumours. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential relationship between fatigue and cognitive impairments in these survivors, as this group is at risk for both types of deficits.
Methods:

Survivors of paediatric brain tumours (n = 45) underwent a neuropsychological testing on average 4 years after diagnosis. Mean age at follow-up was 13.41 years. Cognition was assessed with neuropsychological tests, and fatigue with the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL™) Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. Regression analysis, adjusted for cranial radiotherapy and age at diagnosis, was... (More)
Objective:

The relationship between fatigue and cognition has not been fully elucidated in children and adolescent survivors of brain tumours. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential relationship between fatigue and cognitive impairments in these survivors, as this group is at risk for both types of deficits.
Methods:

Survivors of paediatric brain tumours (n = 45) underwent a neuropsychological testing on average 4 years after diagnosis. Mean age at follow-up was 13.41 years. Cognition was assessed with neuropsychological tests, and fatigue with the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL™) Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. Regression analysis, adjusted for cranial radiotherapy and age at diagnosis, was used to investigate the associations between cognitive variables and fatigue subscales. Cognitive variables associated with fatigue were subsequently exploratively assessed.
Results:

Significant associations were found for cognitive fatigue and measures of cognitive processing speed; Coding: p = .003, r = .583, 95% CI [9.61; 22.83] and Symbol Search: p = .001, r = .585, 95% CI [10.54; 24.87]. Slower processing speed was associated with poorer results for cognitive fatigue. Survivors with the largest decrease in processing speed from baseline to follow-up also experienced the most cognitive fatigue. Survivors expressed more cognitive fatigue compared to other types of fatigue.
Conclusions:

The association between cognitive fatigue and cognitive processing speed in children and adolescents treated for brain tumours is in concordance with the results previously reported in adults. Some survivors experience fatigue without impairment in processing speed, indicating the need for comprehensive assessments. Moreover, the study supports that fatigue is a multidimensional concept which should be measured accordingly.
(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society
volume
27
issue
9
pages
865 - 874
publisher
Cambridge University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85099461612
  • pmid:33441219
ISSN
1355-6177
DOI
10.1017/S1355617720001332
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
e53efa80-89f9-4fbe-b4ee-3bc3e6e5e41d
date added to LUP
2021-01-14 12:48:53
date last changed
2023-04-11 04:34:09
@article{e53efa80-89f9-4fbe-b4ee-3bc3e6e5e41d,
  abstract     = {{Objective:<br/><br/>The relationship between fatigue and cognition has not been fully elucidated in children and adolescent survivors of brain tumours. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential relationship between fatigue and cognitive impairments in these survivors, as this group is at risk for both types of deficits.<br/>Methods:<br/><br/>Survivors of paediatric brain tumours (n = 45) underwent a neuropsychological testing on average 4 years after diagnosis. Mean age at follow-up was 13.41 years. Cognition was assessed with neuropsychological tests, and fatigue with the Pediatric Quality of Life (PedsQL™) Multidimensional Fatigue Scale. Regression analysis, adjusted for cranial radiotherapy and age at diagnosis, was used to investigate the associations between cognitive variables and fatigue subscales. Cognitive variables associated with fatigue were subsequently exploratively assessed.<br/>Results:<br/><br/>Significant associations were found for cognitive fatigue and measures of cognitive processing speed; Coding: p = .003, r = .583, 95% CI [9.61; 22.83] and Symbol Search: p = .001, r = .585, 95% CI [10.54; 24.87]. Slower processing speed was associated with poorer results for cognitive fatigue. Survivors with the largest decrease in processing speed from baseline to follow-up also experienced the most cognitive fatigue. Survivors expressed more cognitive fatigue compared to other types of fatigue.<br/>Conclusions:<br/><br/>The association between cognitive fatigue and cognitive processing speed in children and adolescents treated for brain tumours is in concordance with the results previously reported in adults. Some survivors experience fatigue without impairment in processing speed, indicating the need for comprehensive assessments. Moreover, the study supports that fatigue is a multidimensional concept which should be measured accordingly.<br/>}},
  author       = {{Irestorm, Elin and Ora, Ingrid and Linge, Helena and Tonning Olsson, Ingrid}},
  issn         = {{1355-6177}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{865--874}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society}},
  title        = {{Cognitive Fatigue and Processing Speed in Children Treated for Brain Tumours}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1355617720001332}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/S1355617720001332}},
  volume       = {{27}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}