Motor and Basic Cognitive Functions in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Undergoing Induction or Consolidation Chemotherapy

Abstract

Children with acute leukemia (ALL) often suffer from several disease and treatment related side-effects during treatment. The aim of the present study was to determine the gross and fine motor functioning and basic cognitive performance of children (n = 25) with ALL who were undergoing induction or consolidation chemotherapy and to compare these characteristics to a normative group (n = 21) of age-matched typically developing children. We assessed the children’s motor functions with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency Second Edition-Short Form and the Nine-hole Peg Test, and we used the Modified Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) to evaluate their cognitive performance. Compared to the normative group, children with ALL had lower scores on total motor proficiency and sub-tests scores of motor functions ( p < .05), and on the Nine-hole Peg Test performance ( p < .05); but their cognitive performance on the MMSE was not significantly different. Children with ALL would likely benefit from structured exercise and rehabilitative interventions during chemotherapy to prevent and/or ameliorate ALL-related motor dysfunction. We also suggest that their cognitive functioning should be further investigated with more extensive well-validated neurocognitive tests for children (e.g., the Wechsler intelligence scales).