Cognitive Functioning and Assessment in Adults with Cerebral Palsy: A Scoping Review
Katrine Sand1, Randi Starrfelt1, Ro J Robotham1
1University of Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark.
Developmental Neurorehabilitation
|May 4, 2024
Summary
Cognitive functioning in adults with cerebral palsy (CP) is highly variable, with deficits across all domains. Methodological limitations in current research necessitate improvements for better understanding cognitive impairments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) significantly impacts motor function, but cognitive outcomes are less understood.
- Cognitive functioning in adults with CP requires comprehensive assessment and characterization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on cognitive functioning in adults with cerebral palsy (CP).
- To identify commonly used neuropsychological tests for assessing cognition in this population.
- To highlight research gaps and methodological limitations in the field.
Main Methods:
- A scoping review of 39 studies published between January 1990 and August 2023.
- Analysis of study aims, approaches to cognitive assessment, and reported outcomes.
- Identification of neuropsychological tests utilized in the reviewed literature.
Main Results:
- Significant variability in reported intelligence and cognitive functioning among adults with CP.
- Cognitive deficits identified across all assessed cognitive domains.
- Few studies prioritized cognitive assessment or employed comprehensive neuropsychological test batteries.
Conclusions:
- Current research on cognitive functioning in adults with CP is characterized by methodological limitations.
- There is a need for standardized and rigorous neuropsychological assessment in this population.
- Recommendations are proposed to enhance understanding of cognitive impairments in adults with CP.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cognitive Development During Adulthood
94
Cognitive development continues throughout adulthood, undergoing significant shifts across early, middle, and late stages. Individual transition occurs from adolescent idealism to pragmatic and adaptable thinking in early adulthood. During this period, individuals learn to integrate personal beliefs with the recognition that other perspectives are equally valid. Exposure to the complexities of modern society, diverse experiences, and higher education contribute to this adaptive thought process,...
94
01:24Revisionist Views of Adolescent and Adult Cognition
31
A revisionist approach to Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development has brought new insights that challenge and reinterpret his established ideas. Piaget proposed that the formal operational stage, emerging in adolescence, represents the culmination of cognitive maturity. During this stage, individuals are said to develop abstract thinking, engage in systematic problem-solving, and show a form of egocentrism, believing others are as preoccupied with their behavior as they are...
31
01:30Information Processing Approach
34
The information-processing theory of cognitive development centers on fundamental mental processes, including attention, memory, and problem-solving skills. Researchers in this field examine how cognitive abilities, such as working memory, evolve and influence children's overall development. Studies indicate that children with stronger working memory tend to excel in reading comprehension, math, and problem-solving compared to peers with less efficient memory skills. Low working memory is...
34
01:27Language and Cognition
343
Language serves as a bridge between ideas and communication, influencing how individuals perceive and interact with the world. Psychologists have long debated whether language shapes thought or vice versa. This discussion gained grip with Edward Sapir and Benjamin Lee Whorf in the 1940s, who proposed that language determines thought, a concept known as linguistic determinism. They suggested that the vocabulary and structure of a language influence how its speakers think and perceive reality.
343
01:25Learning Disabilities
104
Learning disabilities are cognitive disorders caused by neurological impairments that affect cognitive functions like language and reading, without indicating overall intellectual or developmental challenges. These disabilities differ from global intellectual or developmental disabilities as they are limited to distinct cognitive functions. Common learning disabilities include dysgraphia, dyslexia, and dyscalculia, each of which impacts unique aspects of learning.
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
Dyslexia
Dyslexia is a...
104
01:17Cognitivism
1.4K
Cognitive psychology emerged as a significant field in the mid-20th century. It focused on understanding humans' internal mental processes. This approach emphasizes how people perceive, remember, think, and solve problems—elements critical to human cognition.
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process...
1.4K