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Executive Function and Processing Speed in Children Living with Sickle Cell Anemia

Stephanie C Kelleher1, Fenella J Kirkham1,2, Anna M Hood3

  • 1Developmental Neurosciences Unit and Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK.

Children (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 28, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) show executive function challenges. Faster processing speed benefits cognitive flexibility in SCA patients without silent cerebral infarction (SCI).

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatrics
  • Hematology

Background:

  • Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) often experience executive function and processing speed deficits.
  • The interplay between processing speed and executive function in SCA is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between processing speed and executive function, specifically cognitive flexibility, in children with SCA.
  • To explore the influence of factors like silent cerebral infarction (SCI) on this relationship.

Main Methods:

  • Recruited 59 children with SCA and 24 controls (aged 8-18).
  • Administered tests for processing speed and cognitive flexibility.
  • Collected MRI scans, oxygen saturation, hemoglobin levels, and caregiver questionnaires.
  • Utilized hierarchical linear regressions to analyze data.

Main Results:

  • Hemoglobin, oxygen saturation, age, infarct status, and processing speed were not independent predictors of executive function.
  • A significant interaction was found between infarct status and processing speed for cognitive flexibility.
  • Children without silent cerebral infarction (SCI) demonstrated better cognitive flexibility with faster processing speed.

Conclusions:

  • The relationship between silent cerebral infarction (SCI) status and processing speed is crucial when interpreting executive function difficulties in children with SCA.
  • Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms.
  • Integrating executive function testing and psychologists into routine clinical care for SCA patients is recommended.

Keywords:
BRIEFD-KEFScognitive flexibilityexecutive functionneuropsychologyprocessing speedsickle cell diseasesilent infarctionswitching

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