Cancer survivors at risk of cognitive dysfunction

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A study shows that people who have been treated for cancer run an increased risk of cognitive impairment.
Previous research has raised the possibility of a link between cancer, cancer treatment and cognitive dysfunction. Now a study from the University of Southern California takes the issue a step further. They looked at mental functioning in a group of 702 cancer survivors and their cancer-free twin taken from the Swedish Twin Registry.

The twin who had cancer was found to be more likely to have a degree of cognitive dysfunction. Around 15 per cent of cancer survivors in this study fell into this category. Previous work has shown cognitive problems with short-term cancer survivors. This study suggests that problems persist - and maybe even get worse - in the long-term. It is not clear whether it is the cancer or the cancer treatment that causes the dysfunction - studies are ongoing to help clarify this.

Source
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1st June 2005