Assessing Cognitive Functioning in Children with Brain Tumors:
Interaction of Neighborhood Social Determinants of Health and
Neurological Risk
Abstract
Purpose This study investigated the interaction between
neighborhood-level social determinants of health (SDOH) and neurological
risk on cognitive outcomes in children treated for brain tumors (CTBT).
Additionally, the impact of redlining practices on cognitive outcomes
was explored. Methods A retrospective chart review of 161 CTBT
aged 5-17 was conducted. Cognitive outcomes were measured using
standardized neuropsychological assessments, and SDOH were assessed
using the Childhood Opportunity Index (COI) and redlining data. The
Neurological Predictor Scale (NPS) measured treatment-related
neurological risk. Results Compared to those in moderate and
high-opportunity neighborhoods, children living in low-opportunity
neighborhoods exhibited lower intellectual functioning (IF)
(F[2,154]=17.7, p < .01, η
2 = .19), processing speed (PS) ( F[2,89] =
4.41, p = .015, η 2 = .09), perceptual
reasoning (PR) (F[2,64] = 3.60, p = .03, η
2 = .10), and verbal reasoning (VR) (
F[2,90] = 10.09, p < .01, η
2 = .18) scores. COI levels moderated the association
between NPS and IF ( F [2,174] = .038, p = .013), with
a negative effect of NPS on IF in high-opportunity neighborhoods (
t = -3.82, p < .01). Children from neighborhoods
less affected by redlining had better IF performance, U = 94.50,
Z = -2.30, p = .021. Conclusions This study
highlights the role of neurological risk and neighborhood-level SODH in
cognitive outcomes in CTBT. These findings underscore the need for
targeted interventions and policies aimed at mitigating the effects of
systemic inequities. Future research should explore early interventions
to support cognitive development in survivors from communities with less
resources.