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Review
. 2017 Dec;25(12):1415-1426.
doi: 10.1016/j.jagp.2017.04.001. Epub 2017 Apr 6.

Cognitive Effects of Chemotherapy and Cancer-Related Treatments in Older Adults

Jennifer N Vega  1 , Julie Dumas  2 , Paul A Newhouse  3
Affiliations
Review

Cognitive Effects of Chemotherapy and Cancer-Related Treatments in Older Adults

Jennifer N Vega et al. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Advances in cancer treatment are producing a growing number of cancer survivors; therefore, issues surrounding quality of life during and following cancer treatment have become increasingly important. Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a problem that is commonly reported following the administration of chemotherapy treatment in patients with cancer. Research suggests that CRCI can persist for months to years after completing treatment, which has implications for the trajectory of normal and pathologic cognitive aging for the growing number of long-term cancer survivors. These problems are particularly relevant for older individuals, given that cancer is largely a disease of older age, and the number of patients with cancer who are aged 65 years or older will increase dramatically over the coming decades. This review will briefly summarize empirical findings related to CRCI, discuss CRCI in older patients with cancer, propose potential causative hypotheses, and provide a canonical patient case to illustrate how CRCI presents clinically. Finally, potential intervention strategies for CRCI will be highlighted and issues to consider when evaluating older patients with a history of cancer will be discussed.

Keywords: Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment; chemotherapy; cognitive impairment; subjective cognitive decline.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest:

JNV reports grants from National Institutes on Aging, grants from Vanderbilt CTSA Grant, during the conduct of the study; Dr. Newhouse reports grants from National Institute on Aging, during the conduct of the study; Dr. Dumas reports grants from National Institute on Aging, during the conduct of the study.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Interaction of chemotherapy with factors that affect normal cognitive aging
a) Effect of chemotherapy on cognitive performance may differ depending on pretreatment level of cognitive reserve. b) Possible trajectories of cognitive decline based on theories how chemotherapy interacts with normal cognitive aging. Figures adapted from Ahles et al. 2012.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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