Cystic Fibrosis Can Impair Kids’ Mental Powers

If cystic fibrosis is not diagnosed early, children can end up with diminished mental function, researchers have found.

If cystic fibrosis is not diagnosed early, children can end up with diminished mental function, researchers have found. Prevailing wisdom holds that cognitive development is not impaired in children with cystic fibrosis. However, the genetic defect that causes the lung problems also affects the pancreas. This can lead to poor absorption of nutrients and to malnutrition, which consequently affects mental growth. “Patients who have cystic fibrosis and experience delayed diagnosis by traditional methods have greater nutritional insult compared with peers diagnosed via neonatal screening,” Dr. Philip M. Farrell, of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and colleagues note in the issue of Pediatrics. Fortunately, preventing prolonged malnutrition by early diagnosis and nutritional therapy results in heightened cognitive function, according to the researchers. Minimizing the duration of vitamin E deficiency appears to be especially important. To look into this matter, the team measured the mental abilities of 89 children with cystic fibrosis. In addition, the investigators examined the influence of early diagnosis through neonatal screening and the possible effect of early malnutrition. Forty-two children were diagnosed through early screening, while 47 who were identified through traditional diagnosis formed a control group. Cognitive scores in the overall study population were comparable to those in the general population, but the screened group had an average score of 104.4 and the control group scored an average of 99.8. Lower cognitive scores were related to indicators of malnutrition and unfavorable family factors, including single parents, lower socioeconomic status, and less parental education. Children with low vitamin E levels when cystic fibrosis was diagnosed were found to have lower cognitive scores. Farrell’s team concludes that cognitive benefits can be gained from improved early nutrition in children with cystic fibrosis. “This strengthens the argument for universal cystic fibrosis neonatal screening,” the researchers add. (Source: Reuters Health, Pediatrics, June 2004)