A M Williams1, M C Janelsins2, E van Wijngaarden3. 1. Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA. AnnaLynn_Williams@urmc.rochester.edu. 2. Department of Surgery, Cancer Control, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA. 3. Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Cancer and its treatment may affect cognitive function through a number of direct and indirect pathways including inflammation, lipid metabolism, vascular damage, and changes in the blood-brain barrier. While short-term treatment-related cognitive changes are well recognized, only limited research is available in older, long-term survivors of cancer. METHODS: Using NHANES data from 1999 to 2002, 408 cancer survivors and 2639 non-cancer participants aged 60 years old and above were identified. Cognitive function of these groups were compared using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and self-reported problems with memory or confusion. RESULTS: After adjustment for covariates, cancer survivors scored, on average, 1.99 points lower on the DSST compared to non-cancer survivors (-1.99, 95 % CI -3.94, -0.05). Cancer survivors also had 17 % higher odds of self-reporting problems with memory or confusion (OR 1.17, 95 % CI 0.89, 1.53). CONCLUSION: In this nationally representative sample of older US adults, cancer survivors had lower DSST scores than non-survivors and had more self-reported problems with memory or confusion.
PURPOSE: Cancer and its treatment may affect cognitive function through a number of direct and indirect pathways including inflammation, lipid metabolism, vascular damage, and changes in the blood-brain barrier. While short-term treatment-related cognitive changes are well recognized, only limited research is available in older, long-term survivors of cancer. METHODS: Using NHANES data from 1999 to 2002, 408 cancer survivors and 2639 non-cancer participants aged 60 years old and above were identified. Cognitive function of these groups were compared using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) and self-reported problems with memory or confusion. RESULTS: After adjustment for covariates, cancer survivors scored, on average, 1.99 points lower on the DSST compared to non-cancer survivors (-1.99, 95 % CI -3.94, -0.05). Cancer survivors also had 17 % higher odds of self-reporting problems with memory or confusion (OR 1.17, 95 % CI 0.89, 1.53). CONCLUSION: In this nationally representative sample of older US adults, cancer survivors had lower DSST scores than non-survivors and had more self-reported problems with memory or confusion.
Entities:
Keywords:
Cancer survivors; Cognition; Cognitive function; NHANES
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