Cognitive functioning of adolescents and young adults with meningomyelocele and level of everyday physical activity.
OBJECTIVE
To explore whether cognitive functioning in patients with meningomyelocele (MMC) is related to level of everyday physical activity.


METHODS
In a cross-sectional study in 14 patients with MMC (aged 14 - 26 years) a neuropsychological test battery was administered to each patient. Everyday physical activity of the patients was measured with an accelerometry-based Activity Monitor (AM), and compared to 14 healthy comparison subjects.


RESULTS
Intellectual ability of 10 patients was in the normal range. For memory and verbal learning, executive functioning, divided attention and reaction speed subnormal scores were present in six or more patients. Time spent on dynamic activities was low in patients with MMC as compared to healthy subjects. After controlling for intellectual ability, we found that in patients with MMC (i) executive functioning was positively related, and (ii) word production was negatively related to everyday physical activity.


CONCLUSIONS
We found some indication that specific impairments in executive functioning might be related to everyday physical activity of adolescents and young adults with MMC.
Roebroeck
M E
ME
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands. m.roebroeck@erasmusmc.nl
Hempenius
L
L
van Baalen
B
B
Hendriksen
J G M
JG
van den Berg-Emons
H J G
HJ
Stam
H J
HJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008591:Meningomyelocele / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010809:Physical Fitness