Randomized clinical trial on the effects of early cognitive interventions for children with acquired brain injury

Abstract Pediatric acquired brain injuries (ABIs) may cause significant cognitive deficits. Early rehabilitation is recommended, but there is no solid evidence on the best intervention formats. This randomized clinical trial investigated the efficacy of two multidomain cognitive interventions for ch...

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Main Authors: Claudia Corti, Susanna Frigerio, Monica Recla, Susanna Galbiati, Valentina Pastore, Chiara Porro, Fabio Storm, Cosimo Urgesi, Sandra Strazzer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06793-1
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author Claudia Corti
Susanna Frigerio
Monica Recla
Susanna Galbiati
Valentina Pastore
Chiara Porro
Fabio Storm
Cosimo Urgesi
Sandra Strazzer
author_facet Claudia Corti
Susanna Frigerio
Monica Recla
Susanna Galbiati
Valentina Pastore
Chiara Porro
Fabio Storm
Cosimo Urgesi
Sandra Strazzer
author_sort Claudia Corti
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Pediatric acquired brain injuries (ABIs) may cause significant cognitive deficits. Early rehabilitation is recommended, but there is no solid evidence on the best intervention formats. This randomized clinical trial investigated the efficacy of two multidomain cognitive interventions for children aged 5:0–17:11. A personalized intervention was compared with an intervention providing a fixed-dose cognitive stimulation. 40 children were randomized into the 2 study arms and received 12-week rehabilitation (3 45-minute daily sessions for 5 days per week). 34 children completed the intervention and were assessed at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1). Visual sustained attention and other cognitive measures of attention, memory, visual-spatial/visual-constructional abilities and executive functions were primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. Primary and 14 of the 16 secondary outcomes showed an improvement at T1 with a medium-to-very-large effect, but training effects could not be disentangled from spontaneous recovery. No differences were found between interventions, likely because of the prolonged multidomain stimulation provided by both of them, which might have been helpful in improving the widespread cognitive deficits of children in both groups. Therefore, while for the chronic phase the guidelines recommend a personalized approach, in the early phase of recovery a standardized intervention may also be effective.
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spelling doaj-art-102bba66b37d4fcfacc26ea77871c3b12025-08-20T03:03:24ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-06793-1Randomized clinical trial on the effects of early cognitive interventions for children with acquired brain injuryClaudia Corti0Susanna Frigerio1Monica Recla2Susanna Galbiati3Valentina Pastore4Chiara Porro5Fabio Storm6Cosimo Urgesi7Sandra Strazzer8Department of Severe Acquired Brain Lesions, Scientific InstituteDepartment of Severe Acquired Brain Lesions, Scientific InstituteDepartment of Severe Acquired Brain Lesions, Scientific InstituteDepartment of Severe Acquired Brain Lesions, Scientific InstituteDepartment of Severe Acquired Brain Lesions, Scientific InstituteDepartment of Severe Acquired Brain Lesions, Scientific InstituteBioengineering Lab, Scientific Institute, IRCCS E. MedeaLaboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Languages and Literatures, Communication, Education and Society, University of UdineDepartment of Severe Acquired Brain Lesions, Scientific InstituteAbstract Pediatric acquired brain injuries (ABIs) may cause significant cognitive deficits. Early rehabilitation is recommended, but there is no solid evidence on the best intervention formats. This randomized clinical trial investigated the efficacy of two multidomain cognitive interventions for children aged 5:0–17:11. A personalized intervention was compared with an intervention providing a fixed-dose cognitive stimulation. 40 children were randomized into the 2 study arms and received 12-week rehabilitation (3 45-minute daily sessions for 5 days per week). 34 children completed the intervention and were assessed at baseline (T0) and post-intervention (T1). Visual sustained attention and other cognitive measures of attention, memory, visual-spatial/visual-constructional abilities and executive functions were primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. Primary and 14 of the 16 secondary outcomes showed an improvement at T1 with a medium-to-very-large effect, but training effects could not be disentangled from spontaneous recovery. No differences were found between interventions, likely because of the prolonged multidomain stimulation provided by both of them, which might have been helpful in improving the widespread cognitive deficits of children in both groups. Therefore, while for the chronic phase the guidelines recommend a personalized approach, in the early phase of recovery a standardized intervention may also be effective.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06793-1NeuropsychologicalRehabilitationTreatmentTrainingPediatric
spellingShingle Claudia Corti
Susanna Frigerio
Monica Recla
Susanna Galbiati
Valentina Pastore
Chiara Porro
Fabio Storm
Cosimo Urgesi
Sandra Strazzer
Randomized clinical trial on the effects of early cognitive interventions for children with acquired brain injury
Scientific Reports
Neuropsychological
Rehabilitation
Treatment
Training
Pediatric
title Randomized clinical trial on the effects of early cognitive interventions for children with acquired brain injury
title_full Randomized clinical trial on the effects of early cognitive interventions for children with acquired brain injury
title_fullStr Randomized clinical trial on the effects of early cognitive interventions for children with acquired brain injury
title_full_unstemmed Randomized clinical trial on the effects of early cognitive interventions for children with acquired brain injury
title_short Randomized clinical trial on the effects of early cognitive interventions for children with acquired brain injury
title_sort randomized clinical trial on the effects of early cognitive interventions for children with acquired brain injury
topic Neuropsychological
Rehabilitation
Treatment
Training
Pediatric
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06793-1
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