Growth Hormone Treatment and Cognitive Function in Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Leukaemia
Author Information
Author(s): Huisman Jaap, Aukema Eline J, Deijen Jan Berend, van Coeverden Silvia CCM, Kaspers Gertjan JL, van der Pal Heleen JH, Delemarre-van de Waal Henriette A
Primary Institution: VU University Medical Center
Hypothesis
GH therapy may reduce cognitive deficits in young adult survivors of childhood leukaemia.
Conclusion
GH treatment has negative effects on verbal memory but positive effects on attention and visual-spatial memory in ALL survivors.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants showed normal cognitive test scores despite prior treatment.
- Verbal memory performance decreased after one year of GH treatment.
- Sustained attention improved significantly after GH treatment.
- Visual-spatial memory improved after one year of GH treatment.
- IGF-I levels increased significantly during the first year of treatment.
Takeaway
This study looked at how growth hormone treatment affects the thinking skills of young adults who survived childhood leukaemia. It found that while it might help with some types of memory, it can make verbal memory worse.
Methodology
The study included 13 young adult survivors of childhood ALL who underwent GH treatment for two years, with cognitive assessments at three time points.
Potential Biases
The study may not reflect the cognitive functioning of the average population of ALL survivors due to the selected sample.
Limitations
The small sample size and lack of a control group limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
Mean age of participants was 23.7 years, with 9 males and 4 females.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p ≤ .0005
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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