The Impact of Paediatric Brain Tumor Treatment on Structural and Functional Brain Connectivity
Aperçu du projet
Thanks to advances in cancer treatments, more than 80% of children treated for brain tumors now survive at least five years after their diagnosis. However, these treatments can often harm the brain, affecting both its structure and function. The brain’s structure, particularly the white matter pathways that connect different regions, and its functional connections—how these regions communicate—play key roles in supporting our thinking and learning. When these structural and functional connections are damaged, it can lead to difficulties with mental tasks like processing information and memory. While we know that treatment can disrupt these brain connections, it’s still unclear how these disruptions impact skills like focusing attention, switching between tasks, and controlling impulses—skills that fall under « »cognitive control. » » My study aims to explore how brain connections support cognitive control in children who have had brain tumors compared to their healthy peers. By better understanding these effects, we hope to inform changes in cancer treatments to minimize long-term damage to the brain and improve survivors’ outcomes.
Chef d'équipe
Katherine Wade-Alonso , The Hospital for Sick Children
Partenaire et Donateurs
Cancer Research Society