Measuring Self-Reported Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment: Recommendations From the Cancer Neuroscience Initiative Working Group

An association of cognitive function with mobile metrics of community walking in older cancer survivors: A pilot study

INTRODUCTION

Older cancer survivors have an elevated risk for mobility dysfunction compared to their cancer-free peers. Despite the established link between cognitive function and community walking in older cancer-free adults, little is known about this relationship in older cancer survivors. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the association of performance-based and self-reported cognitive function with mobile metrics of community walking collected by a wearable Fitbit device.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study enrolled older cancer survivors (mean age 73 years old, range 65-83; 98 % White; 50 % female) within five years of completing primary treatment. Cognitive function, specifically executive function and processing speed was collected with the digit symbol substitution test (DSST) and self-reported cognition was evaluated by the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System- Cognitive (PROMIS-Cog). Continuous walking data from Fitbit wearable devices were collected passively over four weeks. To examine associations between DSST and PROMIS-Cog with mobile measures of walking, we conducted bivariate correlation and multivariable linear regression analyses adjusting for age, education, and number of comorbidities.

RESULTS

In bivariate analyses, higher DSST scores were correlated with higher step count and peak cadence and lower fragmentation of walking in daily life (r = 0.48-0.51, p < 0.01). Higher PROMIS-Cog scores were correlated with higher peak cadence (r = 0.32, p < 0.05), trended towards correlation with step count (r = 0.30, p = 0.06), and were not correlated with fragmentation of walking (r = -0.24, p = 0.13). In multivariable models adjusting for age, presence of graduate level education, and number of comorbidities, higher DSST scores were independently associated with higher peak cadence, step count, and demonstrated a trend towards lower fragmentation of walking in daily life, but PROMIS-Cog was not independently associated with any mobility metrics. Similar results for association of DSST with walking when models included adjustment for PROMIS-depression scale, receipt of chemotherapy treatment, or when education was defined by presence of a bachelor's degree.

DISCUSSION

This study suggests an association between cognitive functions of executive function and processing speed with mobile metrics of community walking in older cancer survivors. Understanding how cognitive function affects walking may help identify new rehabilitation targets for older cancer survivors.

Cognitive impairment in patients with melanoma before adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy and associations with brain gray matter, catechol-O-methyltransferase genotype, and psychological factors

BACKGROUND

Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a significant concern in patients with cancer but understanding its prevalence and risk factors in patients with malignant melanoma (MMPs) remains limited. This study explores CRCI via a multifaceted approach integrating neurobiological, genetic, and psychological assessments.

METHODS

Cognitive functioning across multiple domains was assessed via neuropsychological tests in 47 MMPs before adjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, compared with 53 matched healthy controls (HCs). Self-reported cognitive complaints, brain gray matter (GM) properties, catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) genotype, and psychological and behavioral factors were evaluated. Between-group differences were analyzed with t-tests and χ2 tests, and associations were explored with correlation analyses. GM properties were assessed in a subset of 23 MMPs and 47 HCs.

RESULTS

MMPs exhibited significantly lower cognitive functioning across multiple tests (all p < .05), with a high CRCI prevalence (68.1% vs. 26.4% in HCs). MMPs reported higher fatigue, anxiety, and insomnia severity and poorer sleep quality and quality of life (all p < .01). Self-reported cognitive complaints in MMPs were associated with some cognitive test scores (all p < .05), fatigue (p < .001), and anxiety (p = .045). GM analyses revealed a smaller left cuneus volume in MMPs and significant associations between MMPs' processing speed and cortical thickness (right precentral and left inferior parietal regions) and between delayed verbal memory and right postcentral GM volume (all p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings underscore the need for comprehensive assessments in MMPs to better understand and address CRCI. A multifaceted approach would provide valuable insights that could inform future interventions and improve patient outcomes and quality of life.

Screening for cognitive symptoms in dialysis patients with an extended version of Kidney Disease Quality of Life Cognitive Function subscale (KDQOL-CF): a validation study

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairment and cognitive complaints are highly prevalent in haemodialysis patients and are associated with adverse health outcomes. Currently, there is no established guideline on cognitive screening in this population. Although neuropsychological tests are the gold standard measure of cognition, they are time-consuming and require trained personnel. The Kidney Disease Quality of Life Cognitive Function subscale (KDQOL-CF), a self-administered questionnaire with only three items, may be a feasible alternative for busy renal settings. In this study, we validated an extended version of KDQOL-CF by including an additional memory item (i.e., "How much of the time during the past four weeks did you have memory difficulties?") to improve its ability to capture memory impairments that are common in dialysis patients but missing in the original scale.

METHODS

A total of 268 haemodialysis patients treated in 10 dialysis centres in Singapore completed the extended KDQOL-CF and gold standard measures of objective cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) and subjective cognition (Patient's Assessment of Own Functioning Inventory). Patients also self-reported their functional impairment and treatment nonadherence. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the factor structure and psychometric properties of the extended KDQOL-CF. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were conducted to determine the diagnostic ability of the extended KDQOL-CF in identifying objective cognitive impairments and subjective cognitive complaints. Additionally, we examined associations between the extended KDQOL-CF and patients' self-reported functional impairment and treatment nonadherence.

RESULTS

The extended KDQOL-CF can be explained by a one-factor model and has good internal consistency and convergent validity. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis provided support for the diagnostic accuracy of the extended KDQOL-CF in identifying objective cognitive impairments (area under curve = 60.9%) and subjective cognitive complaints (area under curve = 76.2%). The extended KDQOL-CF also performed better than the original KDQOL-CF in predicting functional impairment and treatment nonadherence in the recruited patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The extended KDQOL-CF may be used as a first-step cognitive screening tool in dialysis settings to offer a gateway for further diagnostic evaluation and preventive or rehabilitative programs.

Seeing through "brain fog": neuroimaging assessment and imaging biomarkers for cancer-related cognitive impairments

Advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment have substantially improved patient outcomes and survival in recent years. However, up to 75% of cancer patients and survivors, including those with non-central nervous system (non-CNS) cancers, suffer from "brain fog" or impairments in cognitive functions such as attention, memory, learning, and decision-making. While we recognize the impact of cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), we have not fully investigated and understood the causes, mechanisms and interplays of various involving factors. Consequently, there are unmet needs in clinical oncology in assessing the risk of CRCI and managing patients and survivors with this condition in order to make informed treatment decisions and ensure the quality of life for cancer survivors. The state-of-the-art neuroimaging technologies, particularly clinical imaging modalities like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET), have been widely used to study neuroscience questions, including CRCI. However, in-depth applications of these functional and molecular imaging methods in CRCI and their clinical implementation for CRCI management are largely limited. This scoping review provides the current understanding of contributing neurological factors to CRCI and applications of the state-of-the-art multi-modal neuroimaging methods in investigating the functional and structural alterations related to CRCI. Findings from these studies and potential imaging-biomarkers of CRCI that can be used to improve the assessment and characterization of CRCI as well as to predict the risk of CRCI are also highlighted. Emerging issues and perspectives on future development and applications of neuroimaging tools to better understand CRCI and incorporate neuroimaging-based approaches to treatment decisions and patient management are discussed.

"It Was a Downward Spiral": A Qualitative Study of Young Adult Cancer Survivors' Experiences with Cognitive and Mental Health

Background/Objectives: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is common and distressing for young adult (YA) cancer survivors; however, subjective CRCI is often attributed to psychological distress rather than true cognitive change. Thus, we aimed to generate hypotheses regarding potential common biobehavioral mechanisms of CRCI and psychological distress. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with YA cancer survivors in peak years for frontal neurocognitive development (ages 18-30), and we asked them to describe their experiences with cognitive and mental health changes during and after treatment for their cancer. An applied thematic analysis was used to identify themes. Results: The participants were 20 YA cancer survivors who were, on average, 23 years old at diagnosis and 26 years old when interviewed. Five themes emerged regarding the connection between cognitive and mental health: depressed mood after diagnosis that decreased mental engagement, cancer-related anxiety consumed cognitive resources during treatment, a bidirectional "downward spiral" during treatment, frustration with forgetfulness, and self-criticism about long-term cognitive limitations. Additionally, participants described receiving minimal information about evidence-based strategies for managing CRCI. Conclusions: Future research is needed to examine common neurological mechanisms among symptoms of depression, anxiety, and CRCI and to address gaps in survivorship care for YA survivors with CRCI. Cognitive-behavioral interventions may address both cognitive and mental health.

Effects of nutritional interventions on cognitive function in adult cancer survivors: A systematic review

AIM

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of nutritional interventions (i.e. nutritional support, dietary patterns and dietary supplements) on cognitive function in cancer survivors.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

METHODS

A systematic and comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Embase, and CINAHL was conducted from the inception until March 10, 2023. The last search was conducted on December 10, 2023.

REPORTING METHOD

PRISMA.

RESULTS

A total of 59 randomized controlled trials were included for analysis. Nutritional support, dietary patterns and dietary supplements improved cognitive function in cancer survivors with no apparent safety concerns. The anti-inflammatory diet, the fasting-mimicking diet and the web-based diet significantly improved cognitive function. Whereas the ketogenic diet or dietary advice to consume more soluble dietary fibres and less insoluble dietary fibres and lactose could not. There was evidence from dietary supplements to support the beneficial effects of polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements, traditional herbal medicines and other supplements.

CONCLUSIONS

Nutritional interventions have great promise for improving cognitive function in adult cancer survivors. Further validation of the nutritional interventions supported in this study in other survivors and exploration of more effective nutritional interventions are needed.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE

This work can support the construction of nutritional support interventions and dietary guidance programs to prevent cancer-related cognitive decline.

IMPACT

This work filled a gap in preventive strategies for cancer-related cognitive decline from a nutritional perspective. Nutritional support, dietary patterns, and dietary supplements can prevent cancer-related cognitive decline without serious safety concerns. This work highlighted nutritional interventions that have the potential to improve cognitive function in cancer survivors, benefiting the further construction of evidence-based nutritional intervention programs.

PROTOCOL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

Structural equation modelling of the role of cognition in functional interference and treatment nonadherence among haemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Cognitive impairment is common in haemodialysis patients and associated with adverse health outcomes. This may be due to cognitive impairments interfering with daily functioning and self-care, but evidence is limited. This cross-sectional study aims to explore the interrelationships between cognition and functional outcomes in haemodialysis patients.

METHODS

Haemodialysis patients completed measures of objective cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment), everyday problem-solving skills (scenario-based task), and subjective cognitive complaints (self-report). Participants also self-reported sociodemographic information, functional interference, treatment nonadherence, and mood and fatigue symptoms. Patients' clinical data including comorbidities and lab results were extracted from medical record. Structural equation modelling was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 268 haemodialysis patients (mean age = 59.87 years; 42.5% female) participated. The final model showed satisfactory fit: CFI = 0.916, TLI = 0.905, RMSEA = 0.033 (90% confidence interval 0.024 to 0.041), SRMR = 0.066, χ2(493) = 618.573 (p < .001). There was a negative association between objective cognitive function and subjective cognitive complaints. Cognitive complaints were positively associated with both functional interference and treatment nonadherence, whereas objective performance was not. Everyday problem-solving skills emerged as a distinct aspect of cognition not associated with objective performance or subjective complaints, but had additive utility in predicting functional interference.

CONCLUSIONS

Subjective cognitive complaints and everyday problem-solving skills appear to be stronger predictors of functional variables compared to objective performance based on traditional tests. Routine screening of everyday cognitive difficulties may allow for early identification of dialysis patients at risk of cognitive impairment, functional interference, treatment nonadherence, and poor clinical outcomes.

Factors associated with cancer-related cognitive impairment in patients with lung cancer: A systematic review

PURPOSE

Cognitive impairment is common in lung cancer patients and impacts their quality of life. Little is known about the etiology of cognitive impairment in lung cancer patients. However, the associated factors of cognitive impairment among lung cancer patients have not been systematically reviewed. This review aimed to summarize the factors related to cognitive impairment among lung cancer patients.

METHODS

PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, and Web of Science were searched to retrieve articles published from data inception until January 21, 2024, focusing on factors associated with cognitive impairment among lung cancer patients. Critical appraisal was undertaken by two reviewers independently using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

A total of 17 observational studies were included. The results showed that 20 factors are associated with cognitive impairment, including psychological factors (loneliness, fatigue, anxiety, depression, high symptom burden, and baseline cognitive impairment), lifestyle and functional factors (daily step counts, smoking, and activities of daily living or instrumental activities of daily living impairments), medical treatment factors (cranial irradiation, chemotherapy, lobar resection, postoperative delirium, and on medication), and neuroimmunological factors (have neuronal autoantibodies, altered Default Mode Network connectivity, dysregulation in glutamate and glutamate metabolism, mitochondrial dysfunction, blood-brain barrier leakage, and reduced T-lymphocytes).

CONCLUSION

This is the first study to systematically review 20 factors associated with cognitive impairment among lung cancer patients, encompassing psychology, lifestyle and functional, medical treatment, and neuroimmunological factors. These findings can help clinicians identify at-risk patients and develop evidence-based interventions to prevent cognitive impairment among lung cancer patients.

Protocol for the Development and Initial Validation of the COG-IMPACT Tool: A Purpose-Built Unmet Needs Assessment for Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment

(1) Background: A significant proportion of cancer survivors report experiencing a cognitive 'fog' that affects their ability to think coherently and quickly, and reason with clarity. This has been referred to as cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). CRCI has extensive impacts on the daily lives of people living with or beyond cancer, including occupational, social, and psychological functioning. Oncology health professionals report feeling under-resourced to effectively assess the needs of an individual with CRCI and then provide optimal care and referral. (2) Methods: The objective of this project is to develop and provide an initial validation of the first purpose-built unmet needs assessment for CRCI: the Unmet Needs Assessment of Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment Impact (COG-IMPACT). We will use a multiple-stage, co-design, mixed-methods approach to develop and provide an initial validation of the COG-IMPACT. (3) Results: The primary anticipated result of this research is the production of the COG-IMPACT, the first purpose-built unmet needs assessment for CRCI. The assessment could be used by health professionals to understand the unmet needs and facilitate optimal care and referral for cancer survivors, by survivors to elucidate their supportive needs and advocate for their care, and by researchers to examine the correlates of unmet needs relating to CRCI, as well as how best to support people with CRCI.

Cancer-related cognitive impairment as a key contributor to psychopathology in cancer survivors: implications for prevention, treatment and supportive care

A significant proportion of cancer survivors will experience some form of mental health compromise across domains including mood, anxiety, psychosis, eating disorders, and substance use. This psychopathology within cancer survivors is related to a range of negative outcomes and can also have a substantial negative impact on quality of life. Along with psychopathology, cognitive impairments are also commonly experienced, resulting in deficits in memory, reasoning, decision-making, speed of processing, and concentration, collectively referred to as cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). Within the non-oncology literature, cognitive deficits are consistently demonstrated to be a key transdiagnostic aetiological feature of psychopathology, functionally contributing to the development and perpetuation of symptoms. Whilst there is an acknowledgement of the role mental health concerns might play in the development of and perception of CRCI, there has been limited acknowledgement and research exploring the potential for CRCI to functionally contribute toward the development of transdiagnostic psychopathology in cancer survivors beyond simply psychosocial distress. Given the theoretical and empirical evidence suggesting cognitive deficits to be an aetiological factor in psychopathology, we provide a rationale for the potential for CRCI to be a factor in the development and perpetuation of transdiagnostic psychopathology in cancer survivors. This potential functional association has significant implications for risk identification, prevention, treatment, and supportive cancer care approaches regarding psychopathology in cancer survivorship. We conclude by providing directions for future research in this area.

Exploring the Cognitive Profiles of Haemodialysis Patients using Objective and Subjective Indicators: A Cross-sectional Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Cognitive impairment is common in haemodialysis patients and associated with adverse health outcomes. Previous work focused primarily on neuropsychological tests, the gold standard measure of cognition. However, these tests reflect performance under optimal conditions rather than performance in everyday life. This study aims to assess both objective and subjective cognition in haemodialysis patients.

METHODS

Adult haemodialysis patients completed measures of objective cognitive impairment (Montreal Cognitive Assessment), subjective cognitive complaints, mood and fatigue symptoms, and provided sociodemographic information. Clinical data such as comorbidity were extracted from patients' medical record.

RESULTS

A total of 268 haemodialysis patients (mean age = 59.87 years; 42.5% female) participated. Only 25.0% of the sample had normal cognition, while the rest had either objective cognitive impairments or clinically significant cognitive complaints, or both (both objective impairments and subjective complaints: 26.1%; objective impairments without complaint: 38.4%; significant complaints without objective impairments: 10.4%). Lower education was associated with the presence of objective cognitive impairments, whereas depression was associated with the presence of clinically significant cognitive complaints. Patients who exhibited both objective cognitive impairments and significant cognitive complaints were more likely to have diabetes and higher dialysis dose (Kt/V). Patients with objective cognitive impairments but no significant complaints were significantly older.

CONCLUSIONS

The cognitive burden of haemodialysis patients can be manifested as objective impairments and/or subjective complaints. When combined the two indicators may better represent the overall cognitive well-being in this population. There is a need to screen for cognitive difficulties and develop cognitive rehabilitative strategies in dialysis settings.

Remission after CAR T-cell therapy: Do lymphoma patients recover a normal life?

Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR T cells) can induce prolonged remission in a substantial subset of patients with relapse/refractory lymphoma. However, little is known about patients' life after CAR T-cell therapy. We prospectively assessed the multidimensional recovery of lymphoma patients in remission, before leukapheresis, before CAR T-cell infusion, and 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter. Validated tools were used to measure lymphoma-related and global health-related quality of life (HRQoL; Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lymphoma [FACT-Lym] and EQ-5D-5L), cognitive complaint (FACT-Cognition), fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue subscale), psychological status (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Post-Traumatic Check List Scale), and sexuality (Relationship and Sexuality Scale). Beyond 12 months of remission, we also surveyed physical, professional, sexual, and general life status. At 3, 6, and 12 months, 53, 35, and 23 patients were evaluable, respectively. Improvement in lymphoma-related HRQoL was clinically relevant at 3, 6, and 12 months with a mean change from baseline of 10.9 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.8; 16.1), 12.2 (95% CI: 4.2; 20.1), and 11.72 (95% CI: 2.06; 21.38), respectively. Improvement in global HRQoL, fatigue, and anxiety was clinically relevant, but 20%-40% of patients experienced persistent fatigue, psychological distress, and cognitive complaints over time. Beyond 12 months after CAR T cells, 81.8% of 22 evaluable patients were satisfied with their daily life. Physical activity, professional, sexual, and global well-being had returned to prediagnosis levels in nearly half of the patients. We found an improvement in HRQoL after CAR T-cell therapy including anxiety, depression, sexual satisfaction, and general well-being. However, not all patients recover a "normal life." Further research is needed to determine which patients are at risk of quality-of-life impairment to improve recovery after CAR T-cell infusion.

Psychosocial Factors Associated with Cognitive Function in Prostate Cancer Survivors on Hormonal Treatments: A Systematic Review

Hormonal treatments (HT) for prostate cancer (e.g., androgen deprivation therapy) yield clinical and survival benefits, yet adverse cognitive changes may be a side effect. Since psychosocial factors are largely modifiable, interventions targeting these factors may help mitigate these adverse cognitive effects. This systematic review aimed to identify a range of psychosocial factors associated with cognitive function in individuals with prostate cancer undergoing HT and to determine whether these factors mitigate or exacerbate this effect. Applying PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive search of relevant databases conducted in September 2023 using terms related to prostate cancer, hormone therapy, and cognitive outcomes was undertaken. The search yielded 694 unique abstracts, with 11 studies included for analysis examining the relationship between cognitive function and the following psychosocial factors: psychological distress, fatigue, insomnia, and coping processes. Findings were mixed with only two studies reporting significant associations between cognitive performance with fatigue and depression. Three studies that included measures of perceived cognitive function identified associations with depression, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, illness threat appraisals, and coping styles. However, no studies found evidence for an association between self-reported and objective measures of cognitive functioning. Evidence regarding the association of interpersonal factors is lacking. Moreover, whether these factors mitigate or exacerbate the effect of HT on cognitive function still needs to be determined. Overall, the research exploring the association between psychosocial factors and cognitive function in prostate cancer survivors undergoing HT is still in its infancy. Further research is required to optimize the implementation of neuropsychological interventions for prostate cancer survivors.

Repeated surgical resections for management of high-grade glioma and its impact on quality of life

PURPOSE

High-grade gliomas (HGG) are aggressive cancers, and their recurrence is inevitable, despite advances in treatment options. While repeated tumor resection has been shown to increase survival rate, its impact on quality of life is not clearly defined. To address this gap, we compared quality of life (QoL) changes in HGG patients who underwent first-time (FTR) versus repeat surgical resections (RSR) for management of recurrence.

METHODS

Forty-four adults with HGG who underwent tumor resection were included in this study and classified into either the FTR group (n = 23) or the RSR group (n = 21). All patients completed comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations that included the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog) scales, pre-operatively and at two weeks post-operatively.

RESULTS

There was no difference between the FTR and RSR groups in any of the QoL indices (all p > .05), except for improved emotional well-being and worsened social well-being, suggesting minimal detrimental effects of repeat surgeries on QoL in comparison to first time surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that repeated resection is a viable strategy in certain cases for management of HGG recurrence, with similar impact on QoL as observed in patients undergoing first time surgery. These encouraging outcomes provide useful insight to guide treatment strategies and patient and clinician decision making to optimize surgical and functional outcomes.

Construction and validation of a risk-prediction model for chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment in patients with breast cancer

PURPOSE

To identify risk factors of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) and construct and validate a visual prediction model of such for patients with breast cancer.

METHODS

A multicenter, descriptive, and cross-sectional design was adopted. Data were collected from ten public tertiary hospitals in China. Cognitive function was assessed by using Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-cognitive function. Socio-demographic, clinical, psychological, and physical indicators were also assessed. The logistic prediction model was constructed by fivefold cross-validation. Then, a nomogram was utilized to visualize the prediction model, which was also evaluated via discrimination, calibration, and decision curve analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 71 breast cancer patients had CRCI with a prevalence of 9.58%. This visual prediction model was constructed based on education background, exercise frequency, chemotherapy times, and fatigue and demonstrated good discrimination, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.882. The calibration curve indicated good agreement between experimental and projected values, and the decision curve proved good clinical applicability.

CONCLUSION

Education background, exercise frequency, chemotherapy times, and fatigue were associated with high incidence of CRCI. The prediction model exhibits superior performance and has promise as a useful instrument for assessing the likelihood of CRCI in breast cancer patients.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Our findings could provide breast cancer survivors with risk screening based on CRCI predictors to implement prevention and early intervention, and help patients integrate into society and achieve comprehensive recovery.

Prevalence and assessment tools of cancer-related cognitive impairment in lung cancer survivors: a systematic review and proportional meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a significant risk factor influencing the quality of life in lung cancer survivors. No absolute assessment tool has been confirmed to assess CRCI in lung cancer survivors. This review was undertaken to pool the overall prevalence of CRCI and to summarize the assessment tools in assessing CRCI among lung cancer survivors.

METHODS

PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, and CNKI were searched to retrieve articles reported CRCI prevalence. Summary prevalence estimates were pooled using a random effects model, along with corresponding 95% prediction intervals (PIs). The Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation of proportions was incorporated in the analysis. Additionally, subgroup analysis, meta-regression, and leave-one-out analysis were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies, involving 1934 survivors, were included in the review. All of these studies were found to have a low risk of bias in terms of their methodological quality. Four studies (33.3%) utilized the International Cognition and Cancer Task Force (ICCTF) criteria to identify CRCI through neuropsychological tests. The pooled prevalence rate of CRCI was found to be 26% (95% PI, 16-37%), I2 = 95.97%. The region in which the studies were conducted was identified as a significant factor contributing to this heterogeneity (p = 0.013). No indication of small-study effects was found (Egger's test: p = 0.9191).

CONCLUSION

This review provides an overview of CRCI prevalence and assessment tools in lung cancer survivors. The findings can serve as epidemiological evidence to enhance clinicians' and researchers' understanding of early detection and assessment.

Treatment-Related Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Prostate Cancer: Patients' Real-World Insights for Optimizing Outcomes

Cognitive impairment (CI) is an issue that needs to be at the forefront of unmet healthcare needs in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) as it can negatively impact quality of life during long-term care. CI in patients with prostate cancer is thought to be influenced by treatment, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), and novel androgen receptor (AR) pathway inhibitors in particular; however, current understanding is limited on how treatment affects cognition. Additionally, the experience of patients with CI who are receiving PCa treatment is not well understood or represented in clinical literature, which is a barrier to optimal patient outcomes in managing prostate cancer treatment-related cognitive impairment (PCa-TRCI). To help understand the patient journey and elucidate management gaps in PCa-TRCI, an international roundtable of healthcare provider and patient panelists was convened. The panelists focused on four key topic areas: (1) the patient experience when afflicted with, or at risk of, PCa-TRCI, (2) the physical, emotional, and social impact of CI on patients' quality of life (QoL), (3) the challenges that patients with PCa-TRCI face, and their impact on clinical decision-making, and (4) ways in which managing PCa-TRCI should evolve to improve patient outcomes. The purpose of the roundtable was to include patients in a direct discussion with healthcare providers (HCPs) regarding the patient journey and highlight real-world evidence of areas where patient outcomes could be improved in the absence of clinical evidence. The resulting discussion highlighted important healthcare gaps for patients with, and at risk of, PCa-TRCI and offered potential solutions as a roadmap to effective medicine.

Cognitive frailty in older cancer survivors and its association with health-related quality of life

PURPOSE

This study aimed (1) to estimate the prevalence of cognitive frailty, (2) to identify factors associated with cognitive frailty and (3) to examine the association of cognitive frailty with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older cancer survivors.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study. Participants were aged 65 or above, diagnosed with cancer and had completed cancer treatment. Measures on physical frailty, cognitive functioning and HRQOL were administered. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the association of cognitive frailty with HRQOL.

RESULTS

Among 293 recruited participants, 18.8% had a cognitive functioning decline, 8.9% were physically frail and 8.2% were cognitively frail. Regular exercise (OR = 0.383, p = .035) and shorter time since treatment completion were associated with less likelihood of cognitive frailty (OR = 1.004, p = .045). Cognitive frailty was significantly associated with global health status (β = -0.116; p = .044), physical functioning (β = -0.177; p = .002), social functioning (β = -0.123; p = .035) and fatigue symptoms (β = 0.212; p < .001) after adjusting for potential confounding variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Cognitive frailty, found in 8.2% of older cancer survivors, is associated with various dimensions of HRQOL. Longitudinal research examining the trajectory and impact of cognitive frailty on more diverse health outcomes in older cancer survivors is warranted. The findings improve service providers' knowledge of cognitive frailty in older cancer survivors and inform surveillance and care for geriatric cancer survivorship.

Development and psychometric evaluation of item banks for memory and attention - supplements to the EORTC CAT Core instrument

BACKGROUND

Cancer patients may experience a decrease in cognitive functioning before, during and after cancer treatment. So far, the Quality of Life Group of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC QLG) developed an item bank to assess self-reported memory and attention within a single, cognitive functioning scale (CF) using computerized adaptive testing (EORTC CAT Core CF item bank). However, the distinction between different cognitive functions might be important to assess the patients' functional status appropriately and to determine treatment impact. To allow for such assessment, the aim of this study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate separate item banks for memory and attention based on the EORTC CAT Core CF item bank.

METHODS

In a multistep process including an expert-based content analysis, we assigned 44 items from the EORTC CAT Core CF item bank to the memory or attention domain. Then, we conducted psychometric analyses based on a sample used within the development of the EORTC CAT Core CF item bank. The sample consisted of 1030 cancer patients from Denmark, France, Poland, and the United Kingdom. We evaluated measurement properties of the newly developed item banks using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and item response theory model calibration.

RESULTS

Item assignment resulted in 31 memory and 13 attention items. Conducted CFAs suggested good fit to a 1-factor model for each domain and no violations of monotonicity or indications of differential item functioning. Evaluation of CATs for both memory and attention confirmed well-functioning item banks with increased power/reduced sample size requirements (for CATs ≥ 4 items and up to 40% reduction in sample size requirements in comparison to non-CAT format).

CONCLUSION

Two well-functioning and psychometrically robust item banks for memory and attention were formed from the existing EORTC CAT Core CF item bank. These findings could support further research on self-reported cognitive functioning in cancer patients in clinical trials as well as for real-word-evidence. A more precise assessment of attention and memory deficits in cancer patients will strengthen the evidence on the effects of cancer treatment for different cancer entities, and therefore contribute to shared and informed clinical decision-making.

Abnormal brain glucose metabolism patterns in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer after chemotherapy：A retrospective PET study

PURPOSE

This study was designed to investigate the acute or chronic post-chemotherapy effect and different chemotherapy cycles effect on brain glucose metabolism.

METHODS

A total of seventy-three patients who received chemotherapy after being diagnosed with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and underwent 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT) scan at Nuclear Medicine Department of the Fifth Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between September 2017 and August 2022 were included. Seventy-two healthy control patients who underwent whole-body 18F-FDG PET/CT scans at our department, without any evidence of malignancy and confirmed by follow-up visits, were included. Advanced NSCLC patients were classified into six arms: short-to-long course (chemotherapy cycles under 4, between 5 and 8 and more than 8) in acute chemotherapy effect (AC) group (scanned 18F-FDG PET/CT within 6 months post-chemotherapy) or chronic chemotherapy effect (CC) group (the interval between scanning and the last chemotherapy session more than six months). Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) analysis between patients' groups and healthy controls' brain 18F-FDG PET was performed (uncorrected p ˂ 0.001 with cluster size above 20 contiguous voxels).

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between patients' groups and healthy controls in age, gender and body mass index (BMI). SPM PET analyses revealed anomalous brain metabolic activity in different groups (p ˂ 0.001). Short-course + AC group exhibited hypermetabolism in the cerebellum and widespread hypometabolism in bilateral frontal lobe predominantly. Only hypometabolic brain regions were observed in middle-course + AC patients. Long-course + AC group displayed a greater number of abnormalities. Notably, these metabolic abnormalities tended to decrease in CC groups versus AC groups across all courses.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that patients with advanced NSCLC who underwent chemotherapy exhibited persistent abnormal brain metabolism patterns during continuous chemotherapy and these abnormalities tended to recover after completion of chemotherapy over time, but without correlation to an increasing number of chemotherapy cycles. 18F-FDG PET/CT may serve as a possible modality for evaluating brain function and guiding appropriate treatment timing.

Neuroimaging based biotypes for precision diagnosis and prognosis in cancer-related cognitive impairment

Cancer related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is commonly associated with cancer and its treatments, yet the present binary diagnostic approach fails to capture the full spectrum of this syndrome. Cognitive function is highly complex and exists on a continuum that is poorly characterized by dichotomous categories. Advanced statistical methodologies applied to symptom assessments have demonstrated that there are multiple subclasses of CRCI. However, studies suggest that relying on symptom assessments alone may fail to account for significant differences in the neural mechanisms that underlie a specific cognitive phenotype. Treatment plans that address the specific physiologic mechanisms involved in an individual patient's condition is the heart of precision medicine. In this narrative review, we discuss how biotyping, a precision medicine framework being utilized in other mental disorders, could be applied to CRCI. Specifically, we discuss how neuroimaging can be used to determine biotypes of CRCI, which allow for increased precision in prediction and diagnosis of CRCI via biologic mechanistic data. Biotypes may also provide more precise clinical endpoints for intervention trials. Biotyping could be made more feasible with proxy imaging technologies or liquid biomarkers. Large cross-sectional phenotyping studies are needed in addition to evaluation of longitudinal trajectories, and data sharing/pooling is highly feasible with currently available digital infrastructures.

Mitigating long-term and delayed adverse events associated with cancer treatment: implications for survivorship

Despite the importance of chemotherapy-associated adverse events in oncology practice and the broad range of interventions available to mitigate them, limited systematic efforts have been made to identify, critically appraise and summarize the totality of evidence on the effectiveness of these interventions. Herein, we review the most common long-term (continued beyond treatment) and late or delayed (following treatment) adverse events associated with chemotherapy and other anticancer treatments that pose major threats in terms of survival, quality of life and continuation of optimal therapy. These adverse effects often emerge during and continue beyond the course of therapy or arise among survivors in the months and years following treatment. For each of these adverse effects, we discuss and critically evaluate their underlying biological mechanisms, the most commonly used pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment strategies, and evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for their appropriate management. Furthermore, we discuss risk factors and validated risk-assessment tools for identifying patients most likely to be harmed by chemotherapy and potentially benefit from effective interventions. Finally, we highlight promising emerging supportive-care opportunities for the ever-increasing number of cancer survivors at continuing risk of adverse treatment effects.

Validating the PROMIS cognitive function short form in cancer survivors

PURPOSE

The Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information System Cognitive Function Short Form 8a  (PROMIS Cog) could provide a shorter, useful alternative to the often used Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - Cognition (FACT-Cog) in research and clinical care. This study aimed to determine the convergent validity and internal reliability of the PROMIS Cog in 3 separate samples of breast cancer survivors and to explore clinical cut points.

METHODS

Data from three samples of breast cancer survivors were used for this secondary analysis. Convergent validity was determined by evaluating correlation strength among the derived PROMIS Cog and measures of depression, anxiety, stress, fatigue, sleep, loneliness, the FACT-Cog . Clinical cut-points for the PROMIS Cog were determined by plotting the receiver operating characteristic curves.

RESULTS

3 samples of breast cancer survivors (N = 471, N = 132, N = 90) were included. Absolute values of correlations demonstrating convergent validity ranged from 0.21 to 0.82, p's < 0.001, and were comparable to correlations with the full FACT-Cog 18 item perceived cognitive impairments (PCI) scale. ROC curve plots indicated a clinical cut off < 34 for the combined sample.

CONCLUSION

The 8-item PROMIS Cog demonstrated good convergent validity and internal reliability in breast cancer survivors, comparable to the 18-item FACT-Cog PCI. The PROMIS Cog 8a is a brief self-report measure that can be easily incorporated into cancer-related cognitive impairment research designs or used in clinical settings.

Subjective cognition and memory lapses in the daily lives of breast cancer survivors: Examining associations with objective cognitive performance, fatigue, and depressed mood

OBJECTIVE

Subjective reports of cancer-related cognitive impairment often far exceed that documented using in-person neuropsychological assessment. This study evaluated whether subjective cognition was associated with real-time objective cognitive performance in daily life versus performance on an in-person neuropsychological battery, as well as fatigue and depressed mood.

METHODS

Participants were 47 women (M age = 53.3 years) who completed adjuvant treatment for early-stage breast cancer 6-36 months previously. During an in-person assessment, participants completed a neuropsychological battery and questionnaires on subjective cognition, fatigue, and depressed mood. Over 14 days, participants responded to up to 5 prompts that assessed real-time processing speed and memory and self-reported ratings of depressed mood and fatigue. In the evenings, participants rated their subjective cognition that day and reported on memory lapses (e.g., forgetting a word).

RESULTS

During the in-person assessment, participants who rated their cognition worse reported worse depressed mood, but did not exhibit poorer objective cognitive performance. Women with worse rated daily subjective cognition reported more daily fatigue but did not demonstrate worse real-time objective cognition. Finally, women who reported memory lapses at the end of the day reported more fatigue and depressed mood, demonstrated better real-time performance on processing speed (p = 0.001), and worse in-person processing speed and visuospatial skills (p's ≤ 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Subjective cognition was consistently associated with self-reported fatigue and depressed mood. Specific memory lapses were related to in-person and daily objective cognitive performance. This suggests that incorporating reports of memory lapses may help clinicians identify those with objectively measured cancer-related cognitive impairment.

Age-related decline in hippocampal tyrosine phosphatase PTPRO is a mechanistic factor in chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) or "chemo brain" is a devastating neurotoxic sequela of cancer-related treatments, especially for the elderly individuals. Here we show that PTPRO, a tyrosine phosphatase, is highly enriched in the hippocampus, and its level is tightly associated with neurocognitive function but declined significantly during aging. To understand the protective role of PTPRO in CRCI, a mouse model was generated by treating Ptpro-/- female mice with doxorubicin (DOX) because Ptpro-/- female mice are more vulnerable to DOX, showing cognitive impairments and neurodegeneration. By analyzing PTPRO substrates that are neurocognition-associated tyrosine kinases, we found that SRC and EPHA4 are highly phosphorylated/activated in the hippocampi of Ptpro-/- female mice, with increased sensitivity to DOX-induced CRCI. On the other hand, restoration of PTPRO in the hippocampal CA3 region significantly ameliorate CRCI in Ptpro-/- female mice. In addition, we found that the plant alkaloid berberine (BBR) is capable of ameliorating CRCI in aged female mice by upregulating hippocampal PTPRO. Mechanistically, BBR upregulates PTPRO by downregulating miR-25-3p, which directly targeted PTPRO. These findings collectively demonstrate the protective role of hippocampal PTPRO against CRCI.

Research Attitude and Interest among Cancer Survivors with or without Cognitive Impairment

BACKGROUND

We examined the research attitudes and willingness to participate in clinical research among cancer survivors with varying degrees of cognitive function.

METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of data collected through the University of California Irvine Consent-to-Contact registry. Cancer survivors completed the Cognitive Function Instrument (CFI), the Research Attitudes Questionnaire (RAQ), and willingness to participate (WTP) in certain research procedures. Perceived cognitive impairment (CI) was defined as the worst 20% CFI scores.

RESULTS

Here, 265 CI and 909 cognitively non-impaired (CNI) participants' data were analyzed. Mean age and sex distribution were similar, with fewer non-Hispanic Whites and education years among CI participants. More CI participants self-reported past diagnoses of Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, stroke, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcohol abuse (all p < 0.05). CI participants were significantly more interested in studies investigating approved medications (92% vs. 87%, p = 0.030), lumbar puncture (47% vs. 38%, p = 0.027), and autopsy (78% vs. 69%, p = 0.022). After removing survivors with co-existing neuropsychiatric conditions, interest in autopsy studies remained statistically higher among CI (79% vs. 69%, p = 0.022).

CONCLUSIONS

Participants with cancer and CI are open to research procedures and interventions that are traditionally less utilized, which may facilitate the discovery of the pathogenesis and interventions for cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI).

Young Adults' Lived Experiences with Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI; e.g., disrupted memory, executive functioning, and information processing) affects many young adults, causing significant distress, reducing quality of life (QoL), and thwarting their ability to engage in professional, recreational, and social experiences. The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to investigate young adults' lived experiences with CRCI, and any strategies (including physical activity) they use to self-manage this burdensome side effect. Sixteen young adults (Mage = 30.8 ± 6.0 years; 87.5% female; Myears since diagnosis = 3.2 ± 3) who reported clinically meaningful CRCI whilst completing an online survey were interviewed virtually. Four themes comprising 13 sub-themes were identified through an inductive thematic analysis: (1) descriptions and interpretations of the CRCI phenomenon, (2) effects of CRCI on day-to-day and QoL, (3) cognitive-behavioural self-management strategies, and (4) recommendations for improving care. Findings suggest CRCI is detrimental to young adults' QoL and must be addressed more systematically in practice. Results also illuminate the promise of PA in coping with CRCI, but research is needed to confirm this association, test how and why this may occur, and determine optimal PA prescriptions for young adults to self-manage their CRCI.

Protocol for a systematic review of the effects of gardening physical activity on neuroplasticity and cognitive function

Background

The beneficial effects of gardening as a form of physical activity have garnered growing interest in recent years. Existing research suggests that physical activity enhances brain function through modifying synaptic plasticity, growth factor synthesis, and neurogenesis. Gardening physical activity is a promising, cost-effective, non-invasive intervention that can easily be augmented in the rehabilitation of neurodegenerative conditions. However, there is still insufficient literature. This protocol describes a systematic review to be conducted of scientific literature on the benefits of gardening as a physical activity that can promote neuroplasticity and improve cognitive function. This information can be useful as an intervention for persons who experience cognitive impairment brought on by cancer and chemotherapy in developing countries such as South Africa where there is real need to access cognitive rehabilitation.

Methods and analysis

The systematic review strategy will be conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. An electronic literature database search of MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Web of Science will be carried out using medical search terms (MeSH), with English as the only permitted language, during the time period of January 2010 to December 2022. We will search for and review studies on how gardening as a physical activity impacts neuroplasticity and cognition. Two reviewers will read the titles, and abstracts and full text of the studies identified during the search to exclude records that do not meet the inclusion criteria. Data will then be extracted from the remaining studies. Any differences in opinion arising between the reviewers during the procedure will be resolved through discussion with a third reviewer. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tool checklist will be utilized independently by two reviewers to evaluate the possibility of bias. The included articles will be subjected to narrative synthesis, with the results being presented in a thematic manner.

Ethics and dissemination

There are no need for ethical approval because no patient data will be gathered. The results will be disseminated through an open-access peer-reviewed indexed journal, presented scientific meetings.PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023394493.

Anxiety, depression, and concentration in cancer survivors: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey results

PURPOSE

We report on prevalence of anxiety, depression, and concentration difficulties and their associations in survivors of cancer in a nationally representative sample up to 25 years after diagnosis.

METHODS

Using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2015 to 2018, participants between the ages of 18 and 79 self-reported on cancer history, symptoms of anxiety, depression, and difficulties with concentration.

RESULTS

Of 10,337 participants, 691 (6.7%) reported a previous diagnosis of cancer; the median time since diagnosis was 8 years. Prevalence was similar between those with and without cancer for anxiety (45.8% versus 46.9%) and depression (19.7% versus 20.0%). Concentration difficulties were more common (11.3% versus 9.0%) for those with a history of cancer compared to those without (adjusted OR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.00-1.90). Prevalence of mental health symptoms was not related to time since diagnosis. Anxiety and depression were highly correlated (r = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.74-0.86) and moderately correlated with difficulty with concentration (r = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.40-0.64 and r = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.53-0.74 respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Difficulty with concentration was more commonly reported by participants with than without a cancer history. Report of anxiety and depression was no different between participants with and without a history of cancer. Anxiety, depression, and difficulties with concentration were strongly related. Further research is needed to explore if there is a causal association, and if so, the direction of these correlations, so that interventions may be appropriately targeted.

An Examination of the Longitudinal Relationship Between Cognitive Function and Physical Activity Among Older Breast Cancer Survivors in the Thinking and Living With Cancer Study

BACKGROUND

Older cancer survivors are at risk for cognitive decline. Physical activity can improve cognition, and better cognitive function may facilitate greater physical activity.

PURPOSE

We examined the potential bidirectional relationship between cognitive function and physical activity in older breast cancer survivors and controls.

METHODS

The sample included women with newly diagnosed, nonmetastatic breast cancer (n = 395) and women without cancer (n = 374) ages 60-98. Participants were recruited as part of a larger multisite study, assessed prior to systemic therapy, and followed yearly for 36 months. Attention, processing speed, and executive function was measured using six neuropsychological tests, self-reported cognitive function using the Perceived Cognitive Impairments subscale of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function , and physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form. Separate random intercepts cross-lagged panel models were used to examine the between- and within-person effects for survivors and controls, controlling for age, education, and study site.

RESULTS

Survivors reported significantly less physical activity than controls at baseline (1,284.92 vs. 2,085.98 MET min/week, p < .05). When survivors reported higher activity, they simultaneously had better objective cognition at 12 months (β = 0.24, p = .04) and reported better perceived cognition at 12 and 24 months (β = 0.25, p = .03), but this relationship was not seen in controls. Cognition did not predict subsequent physical activity or vice versa in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

Cognition and physical activity are cross-sectionally associated in survivors, but the expected prospective relationships were not found.

Substance Use Among Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer With Cognitive Impairment: An Analysis of the Project Forward Cohort

PURPOSE

Young adult childhood cancer survivors (YACCSs) are often impacted by cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) and psychological distress. Using the Project Forward Cohort, we evaluated the relationship between CRCI and substance use behaviors.

METHODS

YACCSs were surveyed between 2015 and 2018 (N = 1,106, female = 50.8%, Hispanic = 51.5%, median age = 25.5 years). Associations between CRCI and substance use (tobacco, binge drinking, marijuana, prescription drug misuse, and e-cigarette/vaporizer) were examined in multivariate logistic or log-binomial regressions, adjusting for child at diagnosis (0-14 years), years since diagnosis, sex, race/ethnicity, cancer type, and treatment intensity. Mediation analysis was performed to determine opportunities for interventions.

RESULTS

CRCI was reported by 144 (13.0%) survivors. The highest prevalence was observed in CNS cancers (25.4%) and leukemia (13.3%) survivors. After covariate adjustment, CRCI was associated with 2.26 times the odds of prior 30-day vaping (95% CI, 1.24 to 4.11; P = .007). Mediators with significant indirect effects in the CRCI-vaping relationship include depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale) and having two or more cancer-related late effects (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

CRCI among YACCSs was associated with reports of vaping. Oncologists should screen for vaping behavior if CRCI is apparent. Increasing access to long-term follow-up clinics, addressing physical and mental health issues, and monitoring and educating on vaping and other substance use behaviors is recommended to improve the long-term health of YACCSs.

Predictors of quality of life among adults with self-reported cancer related cognitive impairment

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of the current study was to examine the unique contribution of personal and medical factors, objective and subjective cognition, and self-efficacy to the explained variance of quality of life (QoL) among survivors with self-reported cancer related cognitive impairment (CRCI).

METHOD

Seventy-three cancer survivors (non-central nervous system) with CRCI (mean age: 50.85 ± 10.82 years old, mean years post-treatment: 3 ± 2.7) participated in this cross-sectional study. QoL was assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT)-GP, while the cognitive function was assessed both objectively using tests of attentional control, speed of processing and sustained attention, and subjectively using the FACT-Cognition perceived cognitive impairments (FACTcog-PCI) subscale. Self-efficacy was assessed using the New General Self-Efficacy Scale (NGSE).

RESULTS

A hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis revealed that sustained attention, perceived cognitive impairment and self-efficacy, accounted for 54% of the variance of QoL (R² = 0.543, p < 0.000), each providing a unique contribution to the explained variance (15-20% each) after controlling for age and gender.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering that these variables may be amenable to change, this model can serve as a conceptual framework for designing effective cognitive treatment options for CRCI. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCTImplication for rehabilitationCancer related cognitive impairment is characterized by difficulties in the speed of processing performance, severe perceived cognitive impairments, and relatively low general self-efficacy.Multi-dimensional assessments including subjective and objective cognition as well as self-efficacy should be administered to cancer survivors with cognitive complaints to understand the underlying mechanisms of their QoL.Integrative cognitive rehabilitation interventions that aim to improve QoL among people with cancer-related cognitive impairment should target sustained attention, perceived cognitive impairment, and self-efficacy.

Cognitive impairment and biomarkers of gut microbial translocation in testicular germ cell tumor survivors

Background

Survivors of testicular germ cell tumors (GCT) may suffer from late cognitive impairment. We hypothesized that disruption of intestinal barrier during chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may be a contributing factor of cognitive dysfunction within the gut-blood-brain axis.

Methods

GCT survivors (N = 142) from National Cancer Institute of Slovakia completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Function questionnaires during their annual follow-up visit at 9-year median (range 4-32). Biomarkers of gut microbial translocation and dysbiosis high mobility group box-1 (HMGB-1), lipopolysaccharide, d-lactate and sCD14 were measured from peripheral blood obtained during the same visit. Each questionnaire score was correlated with biomarkers. Survivors were treated with orchiectomy only (N = 17), cisplatin-based chemotherapy (N = 108), radiotherapy to the retroperitoneum (N = 11) or both (N = 6).

Results

GCT survivors with higher sCD14 (above median) had worse cognitive function perceived by others (CogOth domain) (mean ± SEM; 14.6 ± 0.25 vs 15.4 ± 0.25, p = 0.019), lower perceived cognitive abilities (CogPCA domain) (20.0 ± 0.74 vs 23.4 ± 0.73, p = 0.025) and lower overall cognitive function score (109.2 ± 0.74 vs 116.7 ± 1.90, p = 0.021). There were no significant cognitive declines associated with HMGB-1, d-lactate and lipopolysaccharide. Survivors treated with ≥ 400mg/m2 vs < 400mg/m2 of cisplatin-based chemotherapy had a higher lipopolysaccharide (567.8 μg/L ± 42.7 vs 462.9 μg/L ± 51.9, (p = 0.03).

Conclusions

sCD14 is a marker of monocytic activation by lipopolysaccharide and may also serve as a promising biomarker of cognitive impairment in long-term cancer survivors. While chemotherapy and radiotherapy-induced intestinal injury may be the underlying mechanism, further research using animal models and larger patient cohorts are needed to explore the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment in GCT survivors within the gut-brain axis.

Assessing cancer-related cognitive function in the context of everyday life using ecological mobile cognitive testing: A protocol for a prospective quantitative study

Objective

Millions of cancer survivors are at risk for cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), yet accurate and accessible assessments of cognitive functioning remain limited. Ecological mobile cognitive testing (EMCT) could offer a solution. This paper presents the protocol for a study that aims to (1) establish the reliability and validity of EMCT to assess CRCI in breast cancer survivors, and (2) prospectively evaluate within-person processes (and interactions) among context, mood, and behavior that explain cognitive variability, everyday functioning, and quality of life of cancer survivors.

Methods

Participants will include breast cancer survivors (>21 years old) who are within 5 years of completing chemotherapy treatment. Participants will complete two virtual visits (baseline, follow-up) 2 months apart to assess self-reported cognitive symptoms and cognitive performance, sociodemographic characteristics, clinical history, everyday functioning, and quality of life. Between virtual visits, EMCT will be used to sample cognitive functioning every other day (28 times total). We will use linear mixed-effect regressions and single-level multiple regression models to analyze the data.

Results

We anticipate a minimum of 124 breast cancer survivors enrolling and completing data collection. Study results will be published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Conclusions

Our findings will have broad implications for assessing CRCI in an ecologically valid and person-centered way using EMCT. We aim to provide this protocol to aid researchers who would like to apply this approach to their studies.

Social Support, social ties, and cognitive function of women with breast cancer: findings from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Life and Longevity After Cancer (LILAC) Study

PURPOSE

This study examined associations between self-reported cognitive functioning and social support as well as social ties among women with breast cancer.

METHODS

The study included 3351 women from the Women's Health Initiative Life and Longevity After Cancer cohort who were diagnosed with breast cancer stages I-III. Social support was assessed using a modified Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Support Survey, and marital status was obtained from the baseline questionnaire. We also assessed social ties (e.g., number of friends, relatives, living children) and cognitive function (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function [FACT-COG]) on the year-1-follow up questionnaire. Multivariable quantile regression was used to estimate the changes in median cognitive scores. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to assess the association of cognitive function with social ties.

RESULTS

The majority of participants were non-Hispanic White (93.3%), presently married (49%), with at least a 4-year college degree (53.2%), and had been diagnosed with localized breast cancer (79%). A 10-point higher social support score correlated to a 0.32 higher (better) median cognitive score (p < 0.001). Women who were presently married tended to have better cognition than women who were divorced/separated or widowed (p = 0.01). Significant associations were also present for having close relatives (p < 0.001) or friends (p < 0.001), with cognitive scores being higher in those with at least one close relative or friend compared to none.

CONCLUSION

Women reporting higher social support and greater numbers of friends or relatives have higher cognitive functioning. Compared to divorced or separated women, married women were likely to have higher cognitive functioning. These findings suggest that social support assessments have the potential to help identify women at higher risk of cognitive decline.

Validation study of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function-Version 3 for the Portuguese population

Background

Cancer-related cognitive impairment is a common and potentially debilitating symptom experienced by patients with non-central nervous system (CNS) cancers, with negative impact on their quality of life. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function-Version 3 (FACT-Cog-v3) is the most extensively used instrument specifically developed to evaluate cognitive complaints in adult cancer patients. Nevertheless, this self-report measure is not yet validated for the Portuguese population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the FACT-Cog-v3 among patients with non-CNS cancers in Portugal.

Methods

The validation study was conducted based on a convenience sample of 281 patients with non-CNS cancers, aged between 18 and 65 years, recruited online. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the factor structure of the Portuguese FACT-Cog-v3 version; internal consistency analysis was also conducted. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core-30 (EORTC QLQ-C30–version 3) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were also used to test the concurrent, convergent, and discriminant validity of the scale.

Results

CFA supported a four-factor model with good fix indexes and internal consistencies: perceived cognitive impairments (α = 0.97), comments from others (α = 0.92), perceived cognitive abilities (α = 0.93), and impact on quality of life (α = 0.92). Concurrent, convergent, and discriminant validities were confirmed. Moderate and strong correlations were found between the FACT-Cog-v3 subscales and the QLQ-C30 cognitive functioning subscale. Good convergent validity, with moderate correlations, was found between the FACT-Cog-v3 subscales and the HADS-A, HADS-D, and QLQ-C30 fatigue, sleep disturbance, and global health status subscales. Acceptable discriminant validity, with weak and moderate correlations, was demonstrated between the FACT-Cog-v3 subscales and the QLQ-C30 pain and nausea/vomiting subscales.

Conclusions

The Portuguese FACT-Cog-v3 version can be considered a reliable and valid measure to assess cognitive concerns of patients with non-CNS cancers, with relevance for research and clinical practice.

Longitudinal Analysis of Patient-Reported Cognitive Function in Multiple Myeloma

BACKGROUND

Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) has been largely unstudied in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). This study describes patient-reported cognition over time and patient factors associated with adverse cognitive outcomes in MM.

METHODS

Participants enrolled in a registry in which they completed a geriatric assessment at study entry, and 3 & 6 months after entry. Cognitive function was assessed using the EORTC QLQ-C30 Cognitive Function subscale, with CRCI defined as scores < 75. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were used to fit longitudinal models to investigate differences by group and differences in changes over time by group, with adjustment for time since diagnosis.

RESULTS

One hundred and four adults with MM had mean age of 67 years and 30% identified as Black. Patient-reported CRCI was present in 18% of participants at enrollment, 21% at 3 months, and 30% at 6 months. Worse cognitive function was reported in those with impairments in physical function (P = .002), IADLs (P = .02), and performance status (P = .04), as well as in those who were prefrail/frail (P = .02) and depressed (P = .049). Greater cognitive decline over time was observed in patients without CRCI at enrollment (P < .0001) and those with lower levels of education (P = .04).

CONCLUSION

This is one of the first studies to describe longitudinal changes in patient-reported cognition in patients with MM. Several potentially intervenable factors, including physical function impairment and depression, were associated with worse cognition at study entry, but only baseline CRCI status and education level were predictive of future decline.

Associating persistent self-reported cognitive decline with neurocognitive decline in older breast cancer survivors using machine learning: The Thinking and Living with Cancer study

INTRODUCTION

Many cancer survivors report cognitive problems following diagnosis and treatment. However, the clinical significance of patient-reported cognitive symptoms early in survivorship can be unclear. We used a machine learning approach to determine the association of persistent self-reported cognitive symptoms two years after diagnosis and neurocognitive test performance in a prospective cohort of older breast cancer survivors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We enrolled breast cancer survivors with non-metastatic disease (n = 435) and age- and education-matched non-cancer controls (n = 441) between August 2010 and December 2017 and followed until January 2020; we excluded women with neurological disease and all women passed a cognitive screen at enrollment. Women completed the FACT-Cog Perceived Cognitive Impairment (PCI) scale and neurocognitive tests of attention, processing speed, executive function, learning, memory and visuospatial ability, and timed activities of daily living assessments at enrollment (pre-systemic treatment) and annually to 24 months, for a total of 59 individual neurocognitive measures. We defined persistent self-reported cognitive decline as clinically meaningful decline (3.7+ points) on the PCI scale from enrollment to twelve months with persistence to 24 months. Analysis used four machine learning models based on data for change scores (baseline to twelve months) on the 59 neurocognitive measures and measures of depression, anxiety, and fatigue to determine a set of variables that distinguished the 24-month persistent cognitive decline group from non-cancer controls or from survivors without decline.

RESULTS

The sample of survivors and controls ranged in age from were ages 60-89. Thirty-three percent of survivors had self-reported cognitive decline at twelve months and two-thirds continued to have persistent decline to 24 months (n = 60). Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) models distinguished survivors with persistent self-reported declines from controls (AUC = 0.736) and survivors without decline (n = 147; AUC = 0.744). The variables that separated groups were predominantly neurocognitive test performance change scores, including declines in list learning, verbal fluency, and attention measures.

DISCUSSION

Machine learning may be useful to further our understanding of cancer-related cognitive decline. Our results suggest that persistent self-reported cognitive problems among older women with breast cancer are associated with a constellation of mild neurocognitive changes warranting clinical attention.

Circadian disruption and cancer- and treatment-related symptoms

Cancer patients experience a number of co-occurring side- and late-effects due to cancer and its treatment including fatigue, sleep difficulties, depressive symptoms, and cognitive impairment. These symptoms can impair quality of life and may persist long after treatment completion. Furthermore, they may exacerbate each other's intensity and development over time. The co-occurrence and interdependent nature of these symptoms suggests a possible shared underlying mechanism. Thus far, hypothesized mechanisms that have been purported to underlie these symptoms include disruptions to the immune and endocrine systems. Recently circadian rhythm disruption has emerged as a related pathophysiological mechanism underlying cancer- and cancer-treatment related symptoms. Circadian rhythms are endogenous biobehavioral cycles lasting approximately 24 hours in humans and generated by the circadian master clock - the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus. The suprachiasmatic nucleus orchestrates rhythmicity in a wide range of bodily functions including hormone levels, body temperature, immune response, and rest-activity behaviors. In this review, we describe four common approaches to the measurement of circadian rhythms, highlight key research findings on the presence of circadian disruption in cancer patients, and provide a review of the literature on associations between circadian rhythm disruption and cancer- and treatment-related symptoms. Implications for future research and interventions will be discussed.

Psychometric properties of the 37-item Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog) scale

Aim: To validate the French version of the 37-item Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function, including the four items related to multitasking, previously excluded from the scoring algorithm. Materials & methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 261 cancer patients. Validity was confirmed by factor analyses using the principal component analysis technique. Results: Construct validity was demonstrated, and items loaded on subscales with adequate sample adequacy to factor analyses outcomes. Better cognitive functioning was noted with age and in working patients, whereas lower functioning was observed in metastatic patients. Conclusion: The 37-item French tool is valid and reliable; questions related to multitasking could be included in the score.

Factors associated with perceived cognitive impairment in patients with advanced lung cancer: a cross-sectional analysis

PURPOSE

Perceived cognitive impairment refers to cognitive dysfunction that particularly involves impairment in working or short-term memory, and inattention. This study aimed to identify factors associated with perceived cognitive impairment in patients with advanced lung cancer.

METHODS

This cross-sectional analysis used pooled data from a prospective, ongoing randomized controlled trial examining the effectiveness of exercise in patients with advanced lung cancer (Trial Registration: NCT04119778). Patients diagnosed with stage IIIB or IV non-small cell lung cancer were recruited from three public hospitals in Hong Kong between December 2018 and December 2021. Demographics, daily step count, sleep quality, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and perceived cognitive impairment were included in the analyses. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the most critical risk factors associated with perceived cognitive impairments in attention and memory.

RESULTS

A total of 226 patients were included and analyzed, 35.4% of patients had perceived attention impairment and 58.4% had perceived memory impairment. The daily step count (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.496; confidence interval [CI] = 0.258-0.954), fatigue (aOR = 1.342; CI = 1.903-1.648), and anxiety (aOR = 1.179; CI = 1.042-1.335) were associated with a significantly increased risk of perceived attention impairment, while anxiety (aOR = 1.126; CI = 1.008-1.257) was identified as the most significant factor for perceived memory impairment.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study can inform the design of effective interventions to reduce perceived cognitive impairment and promote the quality of life and well-being of patients with advanced lung cancer.

Blood-Based Biomarkers of Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment in Non-Central Nervous System Cancer: A Scoping Review

This scoping review was designed to synthesize the extant literature on associations between subjective and/or objective measures of cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) and blood-based biomarkers in adults with non-central nervous system cancers. The literature search was done for studies published from the start of each database searched (i.e., MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, grey literature) through to October 20, 2021. A total of 95 studies are included in this review. Of note, a wide variety of biomarkers were evaluated. Most studies evaluated patients with breast cancer. A variety of cognitive assessment measures were used. The most consistent significant findings were with various subjective and objective measures of CRCI and levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor. Overall, biomarker research is in an exploratory phase. However, this review synthesizes findings and proposes directions for future research.

Prevalence and clinical correlates of cognitive impairment in adults with plasma cell disorders

INTRODUCTION

Older adults with plasma cell disorders (PCDs) experience cognitive dysfunction that may be attributable to the disease and associated therapies. Yet, this has seldom been reported in the literature. Our objectives were to describe cognitive function (objective and patient-reported) in adults with PCDs and to explore clinical correlates of cognitive impairment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Participants completed a geriatric assessment between March 2018 and February 2020. Cognitive function was evaluated using two objective measures - Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA, cutpoint <26) and Blessed Orientation Memory Concentration Test (BOMC, cutpoint >4) - and two patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures - Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Cognitive Function (PROMIS-CF, cutpoint <45) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Cognitive Functioning subscale (EORTC-CF, cutpoint <75). Spearman correlations examined relationships among these measures and log binomial regression was used to examine characteristics associated with cognitive impairment, as defined by the MoCA and PROMIS-CF measures.

RESULTS

Among 86 participants with a mean age of 69 (range: 46-91), the prevalence of cognitive dysfunction was between 20% (BOMC) and 63% (MoCA). There was moderate correlation among objective measures (r = 0.51, p < 0.0001), moderate to high correlation among PRO measures (r = 0.69, p < 0.0001), but no correlation between objective and PRO measures. Factors associated with objective impairment included ≤ high school education (RR 1.46, p = 0.009), living alone (RR 1.42, p = 0.02), relapsed/refractory disease (RR 1.39, p = 0.04), empirically de-intensified induction therapy (RR 1.62, p = 0.008), frailty (RR 1.49, p = 0.04), and peripheral vascular disease (RR 1.54, p = 0.002). Factors associated with PRO impairment included social isolation (RR 3.43, p = 0.003), depression (RR 3.30, p = 0.004) and anxiety (RR 4.43, p = 0.0002), frailty (RR 3.60, p = 0.02), falls in the previous 6 months (RR 2.53, p = 0.02), and deficits in physical function (RR 4.44, p = 0.01). Older age was not associated with either objective or PRO impairment.

DISCUSSION

Cognitive impairment, using objective and PRO screening measures, was relatively common in adults with PCDs. Cancer-related factors and medical comorbidities were associated with objective cognitive impairment whereas psychosocial and functional factors were associated with PRO impairment.

Loneliness as a risk factor for cancer-related cognitive impairment: a secondary data analysis from the Haze study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between loneliness and cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) in a cohort of breast cancer survivors.

METHODS

Female breast cancer survivors (stage I-III) reporting cognitive impairments 2 months to 5 years after chemotherapy (n = 61) participated in a prospective, nonblinded, waitlist-controlled pilot study. The intervention was a tailored cognitive rehabilitation program. Data were collected pre-/post-intervention. Loneliness was measured using the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Perceived cognitive function was measured using two subscales of the FACT-Cog and two PROMIS - Applied Cognition short forms. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationship between loneliness and perceived cognitive function (PCF).

RESULTS

Participants' loneliness severity was correlated with diminished PCF across all cognitive measures (Spearman r= -0.63 FACT-Cog Perceived Cognitive Impairment, p < 0.0001; r= -0.6 FACT-Cog Perceived Cognitive Abilities, p < 0.0001; r= -0.49 PROMIS Cognitive Ability, p = 0.0002; r = 0.50 PROMIS General Concerns, p = 0.0002). Loneliness scores significantly decreased following participation in the cognitive rehabilitation program in intervention participants as compared to wait-list controls [-5.0 ± 7.24, 95% CI (-8.06, -1.94), p = 0.0025].

CONCLUSIONS

Perceived loneliness was significantly and consistently correlated with PCF. The intervention may have served a dual purpose in both addressing cognitive deficits and loneliness. Additional research dedicated to understanding the association between loneliness and cognitive function, as well as screening for and addressing loneliness in clinical oncology settings, may be warranted. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONScreening for and addressing loneliness in oncology rehabilitation settings is warranted.Rehabilitation professionals are well-positioned to screen for and address loneliness during clinic visits as part of routine cancer rehabilitation care.Group settings may be appropriate for addressing cancer-related cognitive impairment in rehabilitation, as these groups may serve the dual purpose of addressing cognitive impairment and loneliness simultaneously.

Cancer-related cognitive impairment in survivors of adolescent and young adult non-central nervous system cancer: A scoping review

OBJECTIVES

Cancer-related cognitive impairments (CRCI) are common after treatment and can have important impacts on the lives of adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors-those cancer survivors diagnosed between ages 15 and 39. However, most research focuses on survivors diagnosed under age 15 or over age 39 so we know relatively little about CRCI among AYA survivors of non-central nervous system (CNS) cancers. Here we review the research on CRCI among AYA survivors of non-CNS cancers to determine prevalence, associated factors, and impact on survivors' lives as well as implications for future research.

METHODS

In November 2021 we performed a systematic search of the literature in MEDLINE, Web of Science, PsycInfo, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify peer-reviewed English language articles describing original research with at least one cognitive outcome and conducted with AYA survivors of non-CNS cancer diagnosed as AYAs. We screened 6003 articles and 21 met eligibility criteria. Guided by the PRISMA-ScR Checklist, we extracted study information to meet review objectives.

RESULTS

Most studies employed cross-sectional surveys or interviews, though some employed longitudinal methods, neurocognitive assessments, or brain imaging. From the subset of articles that reported a prevalence we calculated a weighted mean prevalence of 25.75% and weighted median prevalence of 27.8%. The factors associated with CRCI included female gender, higher dose chemotherapy, and comorbidities. CRCI impacted the lives of AYA survivors through impaired role functioning, financial toxicity, and unmet needs.

CONCLUSIONS

CRCI is highly prevalent among non-CNS cancer survivors diagnosed as AYAs and impacts quality of life and role functioning. This review suggests a need for further longitudinal, imaging, and mixed methods research and provision of resources to help achieve better quality of life and educational and occupational attainment during what is potentially a decades-long survivorship period. However, although interventions might improve cognition and functioning, the review identified only one pilot study. Digital interventions may be a practical and effective option for this age group, but they have yet to be adequately investigated. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Daily functioning in glioma survivors: associations with cognitive function, psychological factors and quality of life

Aim: Understanding and supporting quality of life (QoL) and daily functioning in glioma patients is a clinical imperative. In this study, we examined the relationship between cognition, psychological factors, measures of health-related QoL and functioning in glioma survivors. Materials & methods: We examined neuropsychological, self-reported cognition, mood and QoL correlates of work and non-work-related daily functioning in 23 glioma survivors, and carried out linear models of the best predictors. Results & conclusion: A total of 13/23 participants were working at the time of enrollment. The best model for worse work-related functioning (R2 = .83) included worse self-reported cognitive function, depression, loneliness and brain tumor symptoms. The best model for worse non-work-related functioning (R2 = .61) included worse self-reported cognitive functioning, anxiety, sleep disturbance and physical functioning. Neuropsychological variables were not among the most highly correlated with function. Worse cognitive, particularly self-reported and psychosocial outcomes may compromise optimal functioning in glioma survivors.

Self-Reported Cognitive Function in Persons with Nonneurological Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review

Background

Globally, one in three adults has a chronic condition. Many chronic diseases that are not neurological in nature (e.g., diabetes and heart failure) are increasingly associated with cognitive symptoms. However, the instruments used to assess cognitive symptoms in those with nonneurologic chronic illness are heterogeneous, and questions remain as to how cognitive symptoms may be related to demographic and clinical outcome variables, neurocognitive test performance, and other patient-reported outcomes. In this review, we describe associations among self-reported cognitive function, cognitive performance, and additional patient-reported outcomes as well as how cognitive symptoms are measured in nonneurologic chronic illness.

Method

Multiple databases (PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, PsycInfo, EMBASE, SCOPUS, the Cochrane Library, and Academic Search Complete) were searched for studies from 1990 to 2020 that provided data on self-reported cognitive symptoms in those with nonneurological chronic conditions. Initial search yielded 304 articles, of which 32 met inclusion criteria. Quality assessment was conducted using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme.

Results

Thirty-two total studies were included: twenty cross-sectional, 10 longitudinal, and 2 randomized controlled trials. The tools used to assess self-reported cognitive function in the studies were heterogeneous: 28 unique tools were used. Thirty studies examined associations among self-reported cognitive function and other patient-reported outcomes. In 19 there were significant associations. Six studies showed no significant associations between neuropsychological tests and self-reported cognitive function; another 6 studies found a significant association.

Conclusion

Tools to assess cognitive symptoms were heterogeneous. In most studies, self-reported cognitive symptoms were not correlated with neuropsychological test results, but the majority of studies found a strong association between self-reported cognitive function and other patient-reported outcomes. Implications. Consensus on measuring cognitive symptoms would facilitate cross-study comparisons and facilitate scientific progress in those with nonneurological chronic conditions. Based on these results, there is a need to establish a standardized approach for self-reported cognitive function measurement in patients with nonneurologic chronic illness.

Title: Screening for cognitive symptoms among cancer patients during chemotherapy: sensitivity and specificity of a single item self-report cognitive change score

OBJECTIVES

Cognitive symptoms are commonly reported among cancer patients and survivors, yet guidance on when self-reported cognitive symptoms warrant follow-up is lacking. We sought to establish cut-off scores for identifying patients with perceived low cognitive functioning on widely used self-report measures of cognition and a novel single item Cognitive Change Score.

METHODS

Adult patients diagnosed with invasive cancer who had completed at least one cycle of chemotherapy completed a questionnaire containing the EORTC-Cognitive Function (CF) subscale, FACT-COG Perceived Cognitive Impairment (PCI) and our Cognitive Change Score (CCS). We used ROC analyses to establish the discriminative ability of these measures against the PAOFI as our reference standard. We chose cut-off scores on each measure that maximised both sensitivity and specificity for identifying patients with self-reported low cognitive function.

RESULTS

We recruited 294 participants (55.8% women, mean age 56.6 years) with mixed cancer diagnoses (25.5 months since diagnosis). On the CCS, 77.6% reported some cognitive change since starting chemotherapy. On the PAOFI 36% had low cognitive function. The following cut-off scores identified cases of low cognitive function: ≥28.5 on the CCS (75.5% sensitivity, 67.6% specificity); ≤75.0 on the EORTC-CF (90.9% sensitivity, 57.1% specificity); ≤55.1 on the FACT-COG PCI-18 (84.8% sensitivity, 76.2% specificity), and ≤59.5 on the FACT-COG PCI-20 (78.8% sensitivity, 84.1% specificity).

CONCLUSIONS

We found a single item question asking about cognitive change has acceptable discrimination between patients with self-reported normal and low cognitive function when compared to other more comprehensive self-report measures of cognitive symptoms. Further validation work is required. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Combining subjective and objective appraisals of cognitive dysfunction in patients with cancer: a deeper understanding of meaning and impact on suffering?

PURPOSE

Patients with advanced cancer often experience cognitive dysfunction, which may influence decision making, self-perception, and existential well-being. However, there is little evidence regarding this issue. This study analysed associations between objective neuropsychological measures and patients' self-report of cognitive dysfunction interfering with everyday life, general well-being, and sense of existential value.

METHODS

A mixed method study assessed 13 adult patients with advanced cancer with validated neuropsychological tests, which assessed sustained attention, psychomotor speed, memory/attention, mental flexibility, and a measure of global cognitive function. These were followed by semi-structured interviews focusing on subjective experiences of cognitive dysfunction. Agreement between subjective and objective measures were analysed by Cohen's Kappa (k). Thematic analysis explored associations with cognitive deficits.

RESULTS

Poor cognitive performance on the neuropsychological tests was observed regarding sustained attention (n = 8), psychomotor speed (n = 1), memory/attention (n = 2), mental flexibility (n = 9), and global cognitive function (n = 3). Almost all patients (n = 12) had complaints of cognitive dysfunction. However, the agreement between the two assessments was weak (k ≤ 0.264). Cognitive dysfunction challenged the patients with regard to practice everyday life including their existential values related to meaning of life and well-being. Adjustment of the sense of living according to one's existential values and changes of self-perception were also related positively and negatively to existential well-being.

CONCLUSION

Despite the weak agreement between objective and subjective measures of cognitive function, many of the patients reported experiences of cognitive dysfunction that had an impact on their daily life and existential well-being, adding to the suffering experienced.