Attention and Memory Impairments in Pediatric Patients with Cystic Fibrosis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Comparison to Healthy Controls

Abstract

The main aim of the study was to analyze and compare attention and memory performance in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and in healthy controls. 28 patients with CF, 30 patients with IBD and 30 healthy subjects took part in the study (all in age range of 7-17). All subjects were in intellectual norm. To analyze the functioning of attention, the d2 Test of Attention by Brickenkamp (d2 test) was applied. Memory performance was assessed using the Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT) and the Trial of 10 words. The CF and IBD groups committed significantly more errors in the d2 test than the healthy controls. The CF group also had significantly higher fluctuation rates and received significantly lower scores in overall concentration performance than the control group. Patients with CF made more mistakes and had fewer correct memory projections in BVRT than the healthy controls. Patients with IBD committed significantly more errors in BVRT than the control group. Patients with CF and IBD also got significantly lower scores in the Trial of 10 words than the control group. Pediatric patients with CF and IBD performed more poorly than the healthy controls on attention and memory tests. More distinct cognitive impairments were observed in the CF group. Further research is needed to find the underlying mechanisms and clinical and/or functional significance of observed cognitive deficits.

Screening for ADHD in adults with cystic fibrosis: Prevalence, health-related quality of life, and adherence

“…First, CF Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) is expressed in neurons [16] and expressed differentially during the growth of fetuses with and without CF, with unknown effects on development [17]. While children with CF typically have normal global intelligence [18], studies have demonstrated neurocognitive impairment in specific domains, including memory and executive function, in individuals with CF throughout the life span [19][20][21]. In a disease marked by increasing loss of pulmonary function, effects of hypoxia on neurocognition would be expected to worsen with progression of disease.…”

Visuomotor reaction time and dynamic balance in children with cystic fibrosis and non‐cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: A case‐control study

“…Cognitive impairment may be one of these factors. Studies have shown that CF may be associated with cognitive dysfunction 21,22 . In a study evaluating executive cognitive functions, patients with CF made more mistakes than healthy subjects and showed less response according to logical and conceptual importance.…”

“…In a study evaluating executive cognitive functions, patients with CF made more mistakes than healthy subjects and showed less response according to logical and conceptual importance. Neuronal injury caused by hypoxia and hypercapnia, which are frequently seen in CF patients, was suggested as the underlying cause of the observed deficiencies 22 . In addition, poorer performance on attention and memory tests and more pronounced cognitive impairments have been reported in children with CF compared to healthy controls 23 .…”

Unique Neurophysiological Vulnerability of Visual Attention Networks to Acute Inflammation

“…show reduced attention performance as compared to healthy controls (Piasecki, Stanisławska-Kubiak, Strzelecki, & Mojs, 2017) raises the possibility that overt behavioral effects of inflammation on attention only occur when inflammation is persistent. Perhaps, with chronic inflammation neural compensatory mechanisms eventually fail, allowing behavioral indices dependent on attentional preparation processes to become sensitive to inflammatory states.…”