1. Cognitive function in cancer survivors: analysis of the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
- Author
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Williams AM, Janelsins MC, and van Wijngaarden E
- Subjects
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Case-Control Studies, Female, Humans, Male, Memory physiology, Neoplasms rehabilitation, Nutrition Surveys, Survivors statistics & numerical data, Cognition physiology, Neoplasms psychology, Survivors psychology
- 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.
- Published
- 2016
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