title: Cognitive changes associated with central nervous system malignancies and treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the cognitive changes associated with infiltrative, malignant brain tumors and treatments for brain tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of journal articles and textbooks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvements in surgical, radiation, and medical therapies for central nervous system malignancies have resulted in increased patient survival. However, an increase in cognitive decline also has been associated with the presence of tumor and with tumor treatment modalities. Consequently, a negative impact on quality of life, as well as additional stress on caregivers occurs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of the neuro-oncology nurse is to assist in identifying cognitive impairments in patients with central nervous system malignancies, and to aid in promoting strategies for improved quality of life for patients and their caregivers. The long-term goal for the neuro-oncology community is to further improve treatments, to minimize side effects and, ultimately, to reduce the cognitive sequelae of these tumors and their treatments.
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bohan
mesh_terms: D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007427:Intracranial Pressure; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Primary brain tumor; central nervous system lymphoma; cognitive changes; metastatic brain tumor