working memory performance, attention maintenance and executive function in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Background: children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who are receiving chemotherapy are at risk of developing a wide range of neurological disorder during medical treatment. this study was conducted to compare workingmemory performance, attention maintenance and executive function in children with all and healthy children. methods: this causal-comparative research was performed on 50 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and 50 healthy children (their sibling) who were between the ages of 7 and 12 years in children hospital. we used random sampling method. n-back working memory test (n-back) for working memory function, continuous performance test (cpt) for attention maintenance, and wisconsin card sorting test (wcst) for executive function and flexibility were applied. results: independent t-test and mann-whitney tests were used to analyze the findings. children with all have more deficiency in working memory performance (accuracy; correct response: r = 0.01 and unanswered r = 0.008) and executive functions compared to the control group (% correct: r = 0.03, % errors: r = 0.01, categories achieved: r = 0.017, failures to maintain set: r = 0.001). but there were no significant differences in attention maintenance scores between the two groups. conclusions: children with all compared to their healthy siblings show a weak function in cortical regions and frontal lobe. biopsycho- social factors lead to cognitive disruption in all group.