Relationship of cognitive functions and gross motor abilities in children with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy

Abstract

Spastic diplegic cerebral palsy can be accompanied by a myriad of symptoms affecting other body systems including cognitive dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a relationship exists between cognitive functions in the form of selective attention and figural memory domains with standing and walking motor abilities in children with diplegic cerebral palsy. The research design was a correlational study. Tasks assessing cognitive function and gross motor abilities were carried out with a sample of 50 children. The data demonstrated the presence of correlation between selective attention and figural memory domains of cognitive function with standing, walking running, and jumping subscales of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) scale at different ages, and this correlation was significant between selective attention domain and gross motor abilities. The outcome measurements of the current study provide original evidence based on the necessity of including cognitive and physical impairments in the examination and evaluation of children with diplegic cerebral palsy in research and clinical settings.

Investigation of Motor Abilities According to Gender in Children with Diplegic Cerebral Palsy

“…Similarly, it was concluded in the literature that in different studies investigating the difference in motor development between genders, girls had a better level of gross motor skills than boys (17)(18)(19). In the light of our up-todate information, no studies revealing the difference between gross and fine motor skills in boys and girls with diplegic CP with BOT2-SF have been found (4). The purpose of our study planned due to these limitations in the literature was to reveal the difference between the fine and gross motor skills of children with diplegic CP by using BOT2-SF.…”

“…In CP, motor disorders are often accompanied by sensorial, perceptional, cognitive, communicational and behavioral disorders, epilepsy and secondary musculoskeletal problems (2). Spastic diplegia is the most common type of CP with a rate of approximately 44% (3)(4)(5). In spastic diplegia seen as a result of perinatal hypoxic-ischemic lesion or periventricular leukomalacia, motor failure in the lower extremities is often more severe than in the upper extremities (3)(4)(5).…”

“…Spastic diplegia is the most common type of CP with a rate of approximately 44% (3)(4)(5). In spastic diplegia seen as a result of perinatal hypoxic-ischemic lesion or periventricular leukomalacia, motor failure in the lower extremities is often more severe than in the upper extremities (3)(4)(5). Lack of gross and fine motor skills in children with diplegic CP due to non-progressive brain lesions and accompanying secondary pathologies (eg spasticity, muscle weakness, muscle contractures, increased co-contraction, decreased selective motor control) negatively affect daily life activities (6)(7)(8).…”

Cognitive functioning in children with cerebral palsy

“…Visual–spatial impairments and performance IQ are by far the most studied functions in children with diplegia, but specific impairments in attention and executive function have also been reported, especially if there is damage to the anterior corpus callosum in addition to other white matter lesions . Verbal cognition and memory for verbally presented materials are reported to be as expected for age …”

“…The presence of ophthalmological impairments has been reported both to be 39 and not to be associated with or fully explain visual-perceptual impairment 41,55 or constructional dyspraxia. 43 Visual-spatial impairments and performance IQ are by far the most studied functions in children with diplegia, but specific impairments in attention and executive function have also been reported, 44,56 especially if there is damage to the anterior corpus callosum in addition to other white matter lesions. 41 Verbal cognition and memory for verbally presented materials are reported to be as expected for age.…”