AUTHOR=Ng Ted Kheng Siang , Heyn Patricia C. , Tagawa Alex , Coughlan Christina , Carollo James J. 

TITLE=Associations of Circulating Insulin-Growth Factor-1 With Cognitive Functions and Quality of Life Domains in Ambulatory Young Adults With Cerebral Palsy: A Pilot Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.748015

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2022.748015

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Objective: Adults with cerebral palsy (CP) often have impaired cognitive functions.  CP also has deteriorations in multiple quality-of-life (QoL) domains. The bio-psycho-social health psychology model posits that biological factor interacts with social and psychological functions. However, the biological determinant of psycho-social and functional outcomes in CP has been scarcely examined. Circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) is associated with cognitive deficits in older adults, we thus aimed to examine the associations of circulating IGF-1 with: 1) objectively measured cognitive functions, 2) self-reported cognitive functions, and 3) QoL measures in adults diagnosed with CP. Methods: 72 adults with CP and varying degrees of cognitive functions were recruited from an accredited clinical motion analysis laboratory at a regional Children’s Hospital. Circulating IGF-1 was measured using post-fasting serum. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) tests were administered to assess multiple cognitive functions, whereas the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) was used to measure multiple domains of self-reported health, including cognitive complaints and eight QoL domains. Results: 68 participants had complete data ( mean age=25 (SD=5.3), female=52.8%). Controlling for covariates, circulating IGF-1 was associated with multiple cognitive domains, including positively with declarative memory and executive function and inversely with visual-spatial and motor skills, and processing speed, while no association with subjective memory complaint was detected. Circulating IGF-1 was also inversely associated with four QoL domains, including depressive symptoms, executive function, physical function, and social roles and activities.  Conclusions: In CP, circulating IGF-1 might be a useful biological determinant of objective cognitive functions and several quality-of-life domains commonly impaired in CP.