Effect of cancer chemotherapy on cognitive function

Abstract

Background and Objective: Cognitive dysfunction is one of the mental disorders and defined as the impairment in the process of understanding such as knowledge, memory power, attention, analysis, judgment and problem solving etc. Cognitive impairment due to chemotherapy has been reported in 17-75% of patients. Cognitive function can be measured by different subjective and objective assessment techniques. The idea of this systematic review was to appraise the recently published evidence on effect of cancer chemotherapy on cognitive function. The study was designed to evaluate the effect of cancer chemotherapy on cognitive function. Methodology: A comprehensive literature search of articles on the assessment of the effect of cancer chemotherapy on cognitive function was carried out. Based on selection criteria of the study, the articles were reviewed. Cognitive function assessment methods used were different in each of the study article. Results: This review conveyed that the positive correlation between cancer chemotherapeutic regimens and decline in the level of cognitive functioning. It brings out the fact that mechanisms like oxidative stress induced by treatment characteristics like dosage, duration, type of regimen, genetic factors such as ApoE4, COMT-Val, imbalance in cytokines like IL-6,TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta which act as mediating factors for CNS damage, leads to cognitive dysfunction. Patients with any type of cancer, treated with chemotherapy drugs experience a considerable decline in level of cognitive function. Conclusion: Patients with any type of cancer, treated with chemotherapy drugs experience a considerable decline in level of cognitive function.