Journal article
Biological and psychological predictors of cognitive function in breast cancer patients before surgery
Supportive care in cancer, Vol.32(1), 88
01/08/2024
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-08282-5
PMID: 38185720
Abstract
Research suggests that cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) can occur before breast cancer (BC) treatment. The limited extant evidence suggests the underlying mechanisms could be stress-related. Potential psychological and biological predictors of CRCI prior to any BC treatment were examined.
112 treatment-naïve women with BC and 67 healthy controls (HC) completed a neuropsychological test battery to assess cognitive impairment and a self-report battery to assess cognitive complaints, cancer-related stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms. Morning and evening cortisol and α-amylase were collected from saliva. Multilinear regressions were conducted.
Treatment-naïve BC patients were more frequently impaired in verbal memory and processing speed and reported more cognitive complaints (all p < .001) than HC. BC patients and HC did not differ in overall cognitive impairment (p = .21). Steeper α-amylase, lower cancer-related stress and younger age was associated with better overall cognitive function in treatment-naïve BC patients. Higher depressive symptoms predicted higher levels of cognitive complaints in BC patients.
Overall, these findings suggest that stress plays a role in CRCI. This study is the first to associate α-amylase with cognitive function in cancer patients, informing future research. The findings on impairment in processing speed and verbal memory among treatment-naïve BC highlight the need to screen for such impairments among BC patients and indicate that future studies on CRCI should include baseline assessments prior to BC treatment. If replicated, these findings could inform the development and testing of appropriate interventions to decrease CRCI among cancer patients.
NCT04418856, date of registration: 06.05.2020.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Biological and psychological predictors of cognitive function in breast cancer patients before surgery
- Creators
- Snaefridur Gudmundsdottir Aspelund - Reykjavík UniversityThorhildur Halldorsdottir - Reykjavík UniversityGudjon Agustsson - Reykjavík UniversityHannah Ros Sigurdardottir Tobin - Reykjavík UniversityLisa M Wu - Aarhus UniversityAli Amidi - Aarhus UniversityKamilla R Johannsdottir - Reykjavík UniversitySusan K Lutgendorf - University of IowaRachel Telles - University of IowaHuldis Franksdottir Daly - Reykjavík UniversityKristin Sigurdardottir - National University Hospital of IcelandHeiddis B Valdimarsdottir - Mount Saint Vincent UniversityBirna Baldursdottir - Reykjavík University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Supportive care in cancer, Vol.32(1), 88
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00520-023-08282-5
- PMID
- 38185720
- ISSN
- 0941-4355
- eISSN
- 1433-7339
- Grant note
- 184999-051 / Icelandic Research Fund
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/08/2024
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Urology
- Record Identifier
- 9984544957002771
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