Medium-term effects of chemotherapy in older cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To address the lack of research in older cancer patients, the present study prospectively evaluated their cognitive functions across the first six months following diagnosis and chemotherapy.


METHODS
A total of 77 younger (n=43, age < 60) and older (n=34, age > or = 60) cancer patients with hematological disease or cancer of the intestinal tract took part in the study. Medium-term effects of chemotherapy were examined in these cancer patients by means of a battery of cognitive tests during baseline and six months after start of treatment.


RESULTS
In contrast to baseline verbal learning, word fluency and memory capacity improved in all patients six months after start of treatment. A negative effect of age on cognitive functions could not be demonstrated. Additionally, depression was neither associated with medium-term effects of chemotherapy nor was it related to age.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that chemotherapy has no negative effects on cognitive functions after the first six months following the onset of treatment. It was demonstrated that complete recovery of cognitive functions is independent of the patient's age.
Eberhardt
Barbara
B
Department of Biological and Clinical Psychology, Institute of Psychology, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Am Steiger 3/1, 07743, Jena, Germany. eberhard@biopsy.uni-jena.de
Dilger
Stefan
S
Musial
Frauke
F
Wedding
Ulrich
U
Weiss
Thomas
T
Miltner
Wolfgang H R
WH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005858:Germany; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents