Working memory abilities among children treated for medulloblastoma: parent report and child performance

Sarah J Knight; Heather M Conklin; Shawna L Palmer; Jane E Schreiber; Carol L Armstrong; Dana Wallace; Melanie Bonner; Michelle A Swain; Karen D Evankovich; Donald J Mabbott; Robyn Boyle; Qinlei Huang; Hui Zhang; Vicki A Anderson; Amar Gajjar

doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsu009

Working memory abilities among children treated for medulloblastoma: parent report and child performance

J Pediatr Psychol. 2014 Jun;39(5):501-11. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsu009. Epub 2014 Mar 12.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Children's Cancer Centre and Psychology Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, Monash Children's, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Neuro-Oncology Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Royal Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Psychology Service, Sydney Children's Hospital, Department of Biostatistics St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research HospitalClinical Sciences, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Children's Cancer Centre and Psychology Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, Monash Children's, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Neuro-Oncology Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Royal Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Psychology Service, Sydney Children's Hospital, Department of Biostatistics St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research HospitalClinical Sciences, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Children's Cancer Centre and Psychology Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, Monash Children's, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Neuro-Oncology Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Royal Children's Hospital, D
² Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Children's Cancer Centre and Psychology Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, Monash Children's, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Neuro-Oncology Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Royal Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Psychology Service, Sydney Children's Hospital, Department of Biostatistics St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
³ Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Children's Cancer Centre and Psychology Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, Monash Children's, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Neuro-Oncology Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Royal Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Psychology Service, Sydney Children's Hospital, Department of Biostatistics St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research HospitalClinical Sciences, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Children's Cancer Centre and Psychology Department, Royal Children's Hospital, Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service, Monash Children's, Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Department of Psychology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Neuro-Oncology Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Royal Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Department of Psychology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Psychology Service, Sydney Children's Hospital, Department of Biostatistics St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Abstract

Objective: We investigated the 5-year postsurgical developmental trajectory of working memory (WM) in children with medulloblastoma using parent and performance-based measures.

Method: This study included 167 patients treated for medulloblastoma. Serial assessments of WM occurred at predetermined time points for 5 years.

Results: There was a subtle, statistically significant increase in parental concern about WM, coupled with a statistically significant decrease in age-standardized scores on performance-based measures. However, whole-group mean scores on both parent and performance-based measures remained in the age-expected range. Posterior fossa syndrome was consistently associated with poorer WM. Younger age at treatment and higher treatment intensity were associated with greater negative change in WM performance only.

Conclusions: Most children treated for medulloblastoma display WM within the age-appropriate range according to parent report and performance. However, the subtle negative changes over time and identified subgroups at increased risk highlight the need for ongoing monitoring of this population.

Keywords: cancer and oncology; cognitive assessment; neurological disorders; neuropsychology.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Age Factors
Cerebellar Neoplasms / psychology*
Cerebellar Neoplasms / surgery
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Male
Medulloblastoma / psychology*
Medulloblastoma / surgery
Memory, Short-Term*
Neuropsychological Tests
Parents
Young Adult

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding