Simona Gaito, Medical Director Oncology at Parexel, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Among the projects I led during my fascinating PhD journey, this is probably the one I was most passionate about. It addresses a critical issue: neurocognitive side effects in long-term survivors of childhood brain tumours.
With over 70% of children now surviving brain tumours, we must shift our focus beyond survival. These young patients deserve to thrive – academically, socially, and in every aspect of their lives.
This study assessed baseline neurocognitive function in 227 children before multimodality cancer treatment, identifying specific vulnerabilities in processing speed, motor skills, and visual-motor integration. By establishing accurate cognitive baselines, we can distinguish treatment effects from pre-existing challenges and implement proactive, personalized interventions.
This isn’t just about measuring deficits – it’s about empowering these survivors to reach their full potential. Whether it’s succeeding in school, building meaningful relationships, or pursuing their dreams, every child deserves the support to flourish beyond their diagnosis.
Grateful to my co-authors and the team at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust/The University of Manchester for making this work possible.
The article is now available open access in Clinical Oncology, The Royal College of Radiologists journal.”
Title: Baseline neurocognitive functioning in children/ teenagers and young adults treated for CNS malignancies prior to Proton Therapy
Authors: S. Gaito, Y. Wang, A. France, J. Kennedy, P. Sitch, S. Pan, E. Smith, G. Whitfield, M. Aznar, A. Munro and L. Robinson.
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