title: Interventions for Cognitive Deficits in Breast Cancer Survivors Treated With Chemotherapy.
abstract: Cognitive deficits are distressing adverse effects of chemotherapy that have a negative effect on quality of life in breast cancer survivors (BCSs). Cognitive deficits in cancer survivors are a top research and clinical practice priority.
  
  
  
  The aims of this study were to describe cognitive deficits that occur after chemotherapy, describe deficits in BCSs treated with chemotherapy within a framework of cognitive reserve and neuroplasticity, and discuss cognitive interventions (ie, cognitive training interventions, compensatory strategies with cognitive training interventions, pharmacological interventions, and complementary and integrative medicine interventions).
  
  
  
  PubMed search yielded 21 intervention studies of cognitive deficits in BCSs.
  
  
  
  Cognitive training interventions and compensatory strategies with cognitive training resulted in improvement of cognitive deficits. Methylphenidate did not result in cognitive improvement. Modafinil showed improvement in attention. Some complementary and integrative medicine interventions are promising.
  
  
  
  Cognitive training has been most beneficial. Effectiveness of pharmacologic and complementary and integrative medicine interventions has not yet been established.
  
  
  
  While limited evidence is available to guide clinical management of cognitive deficits in BCSs, validating patients' symptom experience and evaluating co-occurring symptom clusters such as fatigue, sleep, and depression, are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Author Affiliations: School of Nursing (Drs Vance, Frank, and Meneses and Ms Bail) and Department of Neurology (Drs Trievel and Gerstenecker and Ms Niccolai), University of Alabama at Birmingham.
authors.forename: David E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Vance
authors.forename: Jennifer Sandson
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Frank
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bail
authors.forename: Kristen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Triebel
authors.forename: Lindsay M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Niccolai
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gerstenecker
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meneses
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000077408:Modafinil; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D000077408:Modafinil