Neurocognitive Dysfunction After Treatment for Pediatric Brain Tumors: Subtype-Specific Findings and Proposal for Brain Network-Informed Evaluations

Abstract

The increasing number of long-term survivors of pediatric brain tumors requires us to incorporate the most recent knowledge derived from cognitive neuroscience into their oncological treatment. As the lesion itself, as well as each treatment, can cause specific neural damage, the long-term neurocognitive outcomes are highly complex and challenging to assess. The number of neurocognitive studies in this population grows exponentially worldwide, motivating modern neuroscience to provide guidance in follow-up before, during and after treatment. In this review, we provide an overview of structural and functional brain connectomes and their role in the neuropsychological outcomes of specific brain tumor types. Based on this information, we propose a theoretical neuroscientific framework to apply appropriate neuropsychological and imaging follow-up for future clinical care and rehabilitation trials.

Parents' Distress & Demands for Children with Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment in Western China: A qualitative study

“…I hope that the government can pay more attention to these children and open up green channels for them. parent 18 DISCUSSION Enhancing disease education can encourage parents to respond positively This study reveals that despite parents' concerns about their children's futures, most of them do not actively seek treatment methods for their children's cognitive impairments.This nding aligns with previous research results 26 .One possible explanation is that parents may have limited knowledge about cognitive impairments associated with cancer.On the one hand,parents may not be fully aware of the potential long-term impact of cognitive impairments on their children due to limited educational backgrounds 15 .On the other hand, as domestic hospitals have not given su cient attention to cognitive impairments related to childhood cancer,parents often rely on short videos and anecdotal accounts from other patients as their primary sources of information, leading to a lack of comprehensive and accurate understanding of cancer-related cognitive impairments.Furthermore,an increasing number of parents have expressed their desire to learn more about cognitive impairments associated with childhood cancer to effectively cope with the situation 27,28 It is advisable for medical professionals to enhance the education and dissemination of knowledge related to cancer-related cognitive impairment.Firstly,for parents who are older or have limited comprehension abilities,regular training sessions should be organized to cover topics such as the de nition,etiology,and clinical manifestations of cancer-related cognitive impairment.During these sessions, it is crucial to take into account their receptive abilities and use simple, straightforward language to ensure effective communication. Secondly, for younger parents,digital education methods like mobile push noti cations,videos,and social media posts can be employed to help them better understand the disease.Thirdly,for hospitalized cancer patients, methods such as posters, brochures,and personalized education sessions can be used to raise awareness about the severity of cancer-related cognitive impairment in children,as well as the importance of regular screenings and early intervention.These efforts aim to assist parents in gaining a comprehensive understanding of cancerrelated cognitive impairment in their children and establishing positive coping strategies accordingly.…”