Cognitive Dysfunction
Key Points/Overview

Forgetting an important date or the name of a long-time associate, being unable to read an entire newspaper article in one sitting, suddenly finding it impossible to prepare family dinners that were once second nature--many people with cancer are surprised to discover that they have cognitive problems surrounding the cancer experience. Cognitive functioning is the information-handling aspect of behavior and encompasses the brain's attaining, processing, storage and retrieval of information. Many people with cancer experience difficulty with cognitive function, including memory loss, distractibility, difficulty in performing multiple tasks (multitasking), and trouble with arithmetic and language skills. Concerns relating to cognitive functioning may range in severity, intensity and duration.

The causes of cognitive problems are many, including the direct effects of cancer within the central nervous system, indirect effects of certain cancers, or effects of cancer treatments on the brain. Cognitive impairments may be subtle and go unnoticed, but they may also represent a devastating collection of symptoms for people with cancer. Cognitive impairment is a frequent finding in people with cancer with a prevalence of up to 85% in the far advanced stages of illness. ²

For people with cancer the most common types of memory impairment include problems with short-term memory, the storage of information from seconds to hours to days. Long-term memory is not often affected in people with cancer. The cognitive processes most affected include attention, learning and memory, and psychomotor efficiency.

Alterations in cognitive function are not necessarily related to a person's age. Cognitive impairments occur similarly in both children and adults with cancers. The repercussions for children may be long-term in nature, including difficulty with academic performance (particularly arithmetic), career pursuits, and quality of life.