Understanding the cognitive impact on children who are treated for medulloblastoma.
OBJECTIVE
Risk-adapted treatment approaches employed within contemporary medulloblastoma treatment protocols aim to reduce the neurotoxicity directed at the central nervous system. Despite these important steps to reduce radiation dose exposure, an overwhelming majority of medulloblastoma survivors continue to experience academic failure and significant learning delays.


METHODS
A review of the current literature is presented.


RESULTS
Deficits in intellectual function, academic achievement, memory, attention, and processing speed are reported. Finally, intervention programs, including pharmacotherapy and experimental cognitive intervention studies, are discussed. A review of neuroimaging studies shows changes in brain tissue following chemotherapy and radiation treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Declining IQ and academic struggles may be predated by difficulties with attention, memory, and processing speed. More clinical trials directed at treating and preventing neurocognitive late effects through cognitive rehabilitation are needed.
Palmer
Shawna L
SL
Division of Behavioral Medicine, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. shawna.palmer@stjude.org
Reddick
Wilburn E
WE
Gajjar
Amar
A
D000124:Achievement; D001288:Attention; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002648:Child; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage