Measuring Cognitive Effects of Pediatric Oncology Treatments Using Computerized Assessments

May 15, 2019

Overview

In recent years the neurocognitive effects of treatments for pediatric cancers have been acknowledged in the scientific literature. However, in many cases the magnitude of these deficits and the long-term impact on cognitive maturation remain unclear. Children and adolescents present a particularly challenging population, given neurocognitive effects may impact developmental trajectories, and patients are often so unwell at the time of testing that brevity, flexibility and adaptability of the neuropsychological testing need to be considered. With the availability of computerized cognitive assessments, recent studies have more readily included longitudinal assessments of neurocognitive function.

In this webinar, learn about a computerized battery that includes measures of processing speed, attention, memory, executive function and social emotional cognition, with a pediatric specific battery available for children as young as 4 years of age. This battery has been utilized in therapeutic areas such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), neurofibromatosis Type I, lymphoblastic lymphoma, medulloblastoma and sickle cell disease.

Dr. Adrian Schembri and Dr. Kristina Hardy share their collective experience on the application of computerized cognitive assessments in pediatric oncology and share case examples of how clinical trial sponsors, research bodies and collaborative institutes such as the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) are using computerized cognitive assessments in pediatric oncology clinical trials.

Featured Speakers

  • Adrian Schembri, Science Director, Cogstate
  • Kristina K. Hardy, PhD, Pediatric Neuropsychologist, Division of Neuropsychology, Children’s National Health System, Associate Professor, Departments of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine

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