Language and Cognition in Childhood Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL): Understanding Chemotherapy-Related Neurocognitive Changes

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 villa s9, compound mena garden city elmotmayez district, 6 october city

2 American University in Cairo

3 Ain Shams University

4 Kasr Alaini Center of Clinical oncology, Cairo University

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether chemotherapy affects cognitive and verbal abilities in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). Given that chemotherapy can have neurotoxic consequences, especially on the developing brain, this study sought to evaluate any effects on language ability, memory, attention, and general cognitive function in young ALL survivors.
Method: From 2021 to 2024, 45 children aged 5-6 diagnosed with childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) were recruited from the phoniatrics clinic, Center of Medical Excellence, at the National Research Center (NRC) in Cairo, Egypt. All children's cognitive and language skills were assessed using the REAL Scale and IQ before starting chemotherapy and then again four months after chemotherapy.
Result: This study's results demonstrate how chemotherapy affects children with ALL regarding their cognitive and linguistic abilities. Some children showed deterioration in verbal fluency, executive function, and language processing. The results showed a strong positive correlation between the change in Total RLS, ELS, and TLS and the change in Full-Scale IQ.
Conclusion: This study shows that pediatric leukemia chemotherapy can significantly affect a child's cognitive and linguistic development. Some children may notice a decline in executive functions, word retrieval, and fluency. These findings demonstrate the need for targeted cognitive-linguistic rehabilitation programs to support language development in cancer survivors. Future studies should continue to investigate efficient intervention techniques to lessen the neurocognitive effects of chemotherapy and improve the lives of children who have survived leukemia.

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