2018/09/19 by Rick, Oliver
#610 Medical sciences #Medicine #cognitive adverse side effects #cognitive dysfunction #cognitive screening #cognitive treatment #neuropsychological assessment
paper · doi:10.3205/ors000035
Cognitive dysfunction (CD) in the form of concentration and memory impairment is detected in up to 75% of cancer patients. In particular, women after breast cancer are affected by CD in about 30% of the cases. After chemotherapy, a deterioration of cognitive function is often observed and the function even remains reduced in the long term in 15–45% of the patients. In general, CD is assumed to be related to the respective anti-tumor treatment. Between 1995 and 2012, 53 studies were published that suggest an effect of chemotherapy on cognitive dysfunction. However, CD seems to be a complex problem in cancer patients and cannot be simply reduced to the chemotherapy performed. It could be demonstrated that factors such as depression, anxiety, and fatigue play a role as well. Moreover, a subjectively perceived poor quality of life also appears to have a negative impact on cognitive function. In particular, the effects of a post-traumatic stress situation at the diagnosis of cancer on a person's mental health are individually different and can also cause impairment of the cognitive performance.