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Sleep Disturbance and Its Association With Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and Attention in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors
Ineke M Olsthoorn1, Alice Ann Holland2,3, Raymond C Hawkins4
1Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UT Health), Houston, TX, United States.
Insights
Pediatric brain tumor survivors with sleep disturbances experience worse sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) and attention problems. Further research is needed to understand sleep
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pediatric Oncology
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Pediatric brain tumor (PBT) survivors face increased risk of sleep disturbances.
- The impact of sleep disturbance on cognitive function in PBT survivors is not well understood.
- This study investigates the link between sleep issues and cognition in PBT survivors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the relationship between sleep disturbance and cognitive functioning in pediatric brain tumor survivors.
- To examine associations with sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT), attention, and working memory.
- To determine if sleep disturbance impacts specific cognitive domains in this population.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 83 pediatric brain tumor survivors (ages 6-18), at least 3 months post-treatment.
- Sleep disturbance measured via caregiver composite scores.
- Cognitive function assessed using caregiver ratings (SCT, attention) and performance-based tests (attention, executive functioning).
Main Results:
- Over 68% of caregivers reported at least one sleep problem.
- Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) was the most frequently impaired cognitive variable (30%).
- Higher sleep disturbance correlated with worse SCT and parent-rated attention problems, but not performance-based measures.
Conclusions:
- Sleep disturbance is linked to poorer SCT and parent-reported attention in PBT survivors.
- Performance-based cognitive measures may not fully capture the impact of sleep disturbance.
- Further research on SCT and sleep in PBT survivors is recommended to improve quality of life.
Background:
Pediatric brain tumor (PBT) survivors are at risk for developing sleep disturbances. While in other pediatric populations sleep disturbance has been associated with worse cognitive functioning, it is unclear to what extent this relationship generalizes to PBT survivors. The aim of the current study was to assess the relationship between sleep disturbance and aspects of cognition, including sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) as well as attention and working memory.
Materials And Methods:
Eighty-three PBT survivors 6-18 years of age who were at least 3 months post-treatment were included in the present cross-sectional study. Level of sleep disturbance was measured as a composite score reflecting various sleep problems as rated by caregivers. Cognitive measures included caregiver-ratings of sluggish cognitive tempo and attention problems, as well as performance-based cognitive measures assessing attention and executive functioning. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to assess associations between sleep and cognition.
Results:
Of all caregivers, 32.5% reported one or more sleep disturbances as "very/often true" and over 68% of caregivers rated at least one sleep-related item as "somewhat true." Of all cognitive variables, scores were most frequently impaired for SCT (30%). A higher level of sleep disturbance was associated with worse SCT and parent-rated attention problems. Associations between sleep and performance-based cognitive measures assessing attention and working memory were not statistically significant.
Conclusion:
Findings of the current study highlight the importance of further investigation into the relationship between sleep and cognition in PBT survivors, which may assist efforts to maximize cognitive outcome and health-related quality of life in PBT survivors. The current study additionally suggests further investigation of SCT in this population is warranted, as it may be more sensitive to detecting possible associations with sleep disturbance relative to discrete measures that assess cognitive performance under ideal circumstances.
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