Nearly a quarter of survivors with attention symptoms have functional profiles that are similar to children with neurodevelopmental ADHD. They also experience more neurocognitive impairments than survivors without attentional difficulties, particularly in working memory. Screening for ADHD symptoms may help providers triage a subset of individuals in need of earlier or additional neuropsychological assessment.
Objective We performed a prospective, cross‐sectional cognitive assessment in subjects with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and their biological mothers. Methods Thirty subjects with out‐of‐frame mutations in the dystrophin (DMD) gene, and 25 biological mothers were evaluated using the National Institutes of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB‐CB). A parent completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF), a standardized rating scale of executive functioning, for their child. Mothers completed self‐reports of BRIEF and Neuro Quality‐of‐Life (NeuroQoL) Cognitive Function. Results Overall, the subjects with DMD scored approximately one standard deviation (SD) below age‐corrected norms on the NIHTB‐CB Total Cognition score. They scored 1.5 SD below age‐corrected norms in Fluid Cognition, which evaluates the cognitive domains of executive function, working memory, episodic memory, attention, and processing speed. Their performance was consistent with age expectations (i.e., within 1 SD below age‐corrected norms) in Crystalized Cognition, which evaluates vocabulary and reading. Subjects with DMD had higher T‐scores in several domains of BRIEF, demonstrating greater difficulty in executive functioning. The biological mothers had overall average or above average T‐scores on NIHTB‐CB. Mothers who were carriers of DMD mutation performed lower overall compared to mothers who were not carriers of DMD mutation (Cohen’s d = −1.1). Carrier mothers performed lower than average (1.5 SD) in Executive Function, measured by Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention. Biological mothers scored within expected score ranges for adults in BRIEF and NeuroQoL. Interpretation The NIHTB‐CB, combined with standardized self‐reported measures, can be a sensitive screening tool for cognitive surveillance in DMD.
Objective: Demographic trends and the globalization of neuropsychology have led to a push toward inclusivity and diversity in neuropsychological research in order to maintain relevance in the healthcare marketplace. However, in a review of neuropsychological journals, O’Bryant et al. found systematic under-reporting of sample characteristics vital for understanding the generalizability of research findings. We sought to update and expand the findings reported by O’Bryant et al. Method: We evaluated 1648 journal articles published between 2016 and 2019 from 7 neuropsychological journals. Of these, 1277 were original research or secondary analyses and were examined further. Articles were coded for reporting of age, sex/gender, years of education, ethnicity/race, socioeconomic status (SES), language, and acculturation. Additionally, we recorded information related to sample size, country, and whether the article focused on a pediatric or adult sample. Results: Key variables such as age and sex/gender (both over 95%) as well as education (71%) were frequently reported. Language (20%) and race/ethnicity (36%) were modestly reported, and SES (13%), and acculturation (<1%) were more rarely reported. SES was more commonly reported in pediatric than adult samples, and the opposite was true for education. There were differences between the present results and those of O’Bryant et al., though the same general trends remained. Conclusions: Reporting of demographic data in neuropsychological research appears to be slowly changing toward greater comprehensiveness, though clearly more work is needed. Greater systematic reporting of such data is likely to be beneficial for the generalizability and contextualization of neurocognitive function.
Introduction Pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS) are at risk for both neurocognitive impairments and psychological difficulties, yet these two domains have historically been discretely examined, with assessment of psychosocial outcomes rarely included in studies of cognitive outcomes. Taking a person‐centered approach, the current study aimed to more comprehensively evaluate PBTS late effect profiles, including both neurocognitive and psychological sequelae, and predictors of these profiles. Method PBTS (N = 89) were assessed in a pediatric neuropsychological clinic between May 2009 and May 2018, diagnosed at least 1 year prior, and off‐treatment for at least 3 months (Mage = 6.57 years, SD = 4.53; 46.1% female). Parent‐ and teacher‐report of psychological symptoms, and performance‐based measures of neurocognitive functioning were examined using latent profile analysis. The R3STEP procedure identified predictors of class membership. Results The optimal model identified four classes characterized by: (1) average functioning across all measures (“Average,” n = 47), (2) average psychosocial functioning and impaired neurocognitive functioning (“Cognitive Deficit,” n = 25), (3) elevated social problems and significant neurocognitive impairments (“Social/Cognitive Deficit,” n = 9), and (4) impaired visual planning and problem‐solving and elevated parent‐reported psychosocial problems, but average processing speed, working memory, and teacher‐reported psychosocial outcomes (“Discrepant,” n = 8). Ethnicity, race, radiation treatment, and diagnoses of neurofibromatosis 1, hydrocephalus, and cerebellar mutism syndrome were significant predictors of class membership (ps < 0.05). Conclusion The present study identified distinct phenotypes with unique patterns of relations among neurocognitive and psychological domains. These findings are a vital first step toward identifying those at highest risk for poor outcomes and informing interventions that effectively address interrelated treatment targets for specific groups.
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