Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 6, 2026
10:10
Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy
Published on: October 18, 2011
13.5K
Emerging pharmacotherapy for cancer patients with cognitive dysfunction
Justin Davis, Fiona M Ahlberg, Michael Berk
1School of Medicine of Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia. m.khasraw@deakin.edu.au.
BMC Neurology
|October 26, 2013
Summary
Cancer treatments can cause cognitive dysfunction, impacting memory and mood. Emerging drugs, including stimulants and anti-Alzheimer's agents, are being investigated to treat this common side effect in cancer survivors.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Cancer therapies like chemotherapy and radiotherapy improve survival but cause long-term cognitive dysfunction.
- Chemotherapy's cytotoxic effects can impair neurogenesis, affecting memory, mood, and cognition.
- Radiotherapy can also significantly impact cognitive functions in cancer patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review emerging pharmacotherapies for treating cancer-related cognitive dysfunction.
- To evaluate clinical trial data on various agents under investigation.
- To explore potential treatments for memory and mood disorders in cancer survivors.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent clinical trial data.
- Analysis of pharmacotherapies including stimulants, mood stabilizers, and anti-Alzheimer's drugs.
- Examination of agents studied in dementia, animal, and cell culture models.
Main Results:
- Modafinil and methylphenidate (stimulants) are under investigation.
- Lithium (mood stabilizer) is being explored.
- Memantine and donepezil (anti-Alzheimer's drugs) show potential.
Conclusions:
- Pharmacotherapies offer promising avenues for managing cancer-related cognitive dysfunction.
- Further research is needed to establish efficacy and safety.
- Addressing cognitive sequelae is crucial for improving cancer survivors' quality of life.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
933
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function.
933
01:22Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment
1.3K
Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is pathologically identified by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. AD pharmacotherapy aims to manage cognitive symptoms, delay disease progression, and treat behavioral symptoms. The treatment is primarily symptomatic and palliative, with no definitive disease-modifying therapy available. Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), are...
1.3K
01:28Drug Therapy
450
The advent of drug therapy has profoundly shaped modern mental health care, providing targeted treatments for a range of psychological disorders. Psychotherapeutic drugs, classified into antianxiety, antidepressant, and antipsychotic medications, address symptoms across anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and schizophrenia. While these medications have transformed patient outcomes, they require careful management due to their potential side effects and limitations.
Antianxiety Medications
Antianxiety Medications
450
01:15Drug Dosing: Geriatric Patients
402
Elderly individuals encompass a diverse population with varying degrees of age-related physiological changes. Defining the elderly presents challenges, as the geriatric population is often arbitrarily categorized as individuals older than 65. However, many individuals in this group lead active and healthy lives, with an increasing number surpassing 85 years and falling into the older elderly category. Physiological changes associated with aging impact performance capacity and homeostatic...
402
02:56Treatment Resistant Cancers
2.7K
Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
2.7K
02:49Cancer Therapies
8.6K
Cancer therapies are various modes of treatment, such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy that are administered to cancer patients.
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
8.6K