TY - JOUR

T1 - [Formula

T2 - Attention and executive functioning profiles in children following perinatal arterial ischemic stroke

AU - Bosenbark, Danielle D

AU - Krivitzky, Lauren

AU - Ichord, Rebecca

AU - Jastrzab, Laura

AU - Billinghurst, Lori

PY - 2018/1

Y1 - 2018/1

N2 - Perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS) is a form of childhood stroke; the majority of those affected experience neurologic sequelae, including motor, language and neurocognitive impairments. This study examines the attention and executive functioning (EF) profiles of children following PAIS, as well as the impact of age and sex. In this single-center cross-sectional study, 40 children aged 3 to 16 years (median age 7.2 years; 58% male) who have suffered a PAIS underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological battery to assess attention and EF. Parents completed behavioral questionnaires regarding real-world functioning. Composite scores were calculated for seven attention and EF domains (Attention, Working Memory, Verbal Retrieval, Inhibitory Control, Flexibility/Shifting, Planning/Organization, and Processing Speed). The results for all measured domains of attention and EF are significantly lower in the participants compared to the normative samples (p < .001), with the exception of Working Memory. However, increasing difficulty with Working Memory is associated with developing age. Older age at time of testing is also associated with a higher incidence of clinically-elevated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Sex is not associated with performance measures or parental report of functioning. The participants demonstrate mild-to-moderate attention and EF impairment compared to the normative population. Clinicians, families, and educators should be informed about the neurocognitive sequelae of PAIS and the need for close developmental surveillance in this population to identify vulnerable children and initiate appropriate therapeutic interventions in a timely fashion.

AB - Perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS) is a form of childhood stroke; the majority of those affected experience neurologic sequelae, including motor, language and neurocognitive impairments. This study examines the attention and executive functioning (EF) profiles of children following PAIS, as well as the impact of age and sex. In this single-center cross-sectional study, 40 children aged 3 to 16 years (median age 7.2 years; 58% male) who have suffered a PAIS underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological battery to assess attention and EF. Parents completed behavioral questionnaires regarding real-world functioning. Composite scores were calculated for seven attention and EF domains (Attention, Working Memory, Verbal Retrieval, Inhibitory Control, Flexibility/Shifting, Planning/Organization, and Processing Speed). The results for all measured domains of attention and EF are significantly lower in the participants compared to the normative samples (p < .001), with the exception of Working Memory. However, increasing difficulty with Working Memory is associated with developing age. Older age at time of testing is also associated with a higher incidence of clinically-elevated attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms. Sex is not associated with performance measures or parental report of functioning. The participants demonstrate mild-to-moderate attention and EF impairment compared to the normative population. Clinicians, families, and educators should be informed about the neurocognitive sequelae of PAIS and the need for close developmental surveillance in this population to identify vulnerable children and initiate appropriate therapeutic interventions in a timely fashion.

KW - Adolescent

KW - Attention/physiology

KW - Child

KW - Child, Preschool

KW - Cross-Sectional Studies

KW - Executive Function/physiology

KW - Female

KW - Humans

KW - Infant

KW - Male

KW - Neuropsychological Tests

KW - Perinatal Care

KW - Stroke/complications

U2 - 10.1080/09297049.2016.1225708

DO - 10.1080/09297049.2016.1225708

M3 - Article

C2 - 27599397

VL - 24

SP - 106

EP - 123

JO - Child Neuropsychology

JF - Child Neuropsychology

SN - 0929-7049

IS - 1

ER -