Open AccessImpaired neuropsychological functioning in patients with hypopituitarism
Author(s) -
Slagboom Tessa N. A.,
Deijen Jan Berend,
Van Bunderen Christa C.,
Knoop Hans A.,
Drent Madeleine L.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2398-9238
DOI - 10.1002/edm2.165
Subject(s) - cambridge neuropsychological test automated battery , hypopituitarism , neuropsychology , audiology , cognition , medicine , psychology , neuropsychological assessment , executive functions , effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance , clinical psychology , pediatrics , working memory , spatial memory , psychiatry
Background Treatment of pituitary pathology mostly does not result in complete recovery of impairment in cognitive functioning. The primary aim of the current study was to assess cognitive impairment in patients with stable replacement therapy for hypopituitarism during the last 6 months prior to inclusion. It was expected that patients showed subjective and objective subnormal scores on neuropsychological functioning. Methods Forty‐two patients (40% men, 49 ± 15 years) treated for hypopituitarism conducted a neuropsychological test battery, including the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), 15‐Word test (15‐WT), Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) Motor Screening Task (MOT), Spatial Working Memory (SWM) and Affective Go/No‐go (AGN). Results were compared to reference values of healthy norm groups. Results Male and female participants scored significantly worse on the CFQ ( P < .01, d = 0.91‐4.09) and AGN mean correct latency ( P < .01, d = 1.66 and 1.29, respectively). Female participants scored significantly worse on 15‐WT direct recall ( P = .01, d = 0.66), 15‐WT delayed recall ( P = .01, d = 0.79), SWM total errors ( P = .05, d = 0.41), SWM strategy ( P = .04, d = 0.43), AGN errors of commission ( P = .02, d = 0.56) and omission ( P = .04, d = 0.41). Conclusion This study shows that subjective cognitive functioning is worse in patients treated for hypopituitarism compared to reference data. Also, female participants treated for hypopituitarism score worse on objective aspects of memory and executive functioning compared to reference data. Besides worse focus attention, this objective cognitive impairment was not found in male participants. It is recommended to conduct additional research, which focuses on the design and evaluation of a cognitive remediation therapy, aimed at compensation of impairments in different aspects of memory and executive functioning.