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Updated: Aug 14, 2025

Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy
Published on: October 18, 2011
[Chemobrain - cognitive disorders after chemotherapy]
Anna Kupryjaniuk1, Michał Sobstyl1
1Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Neurosurgery Department in Warsaw.
Abstract:
In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the deterioration of cognitive functioning after the use of chemotherapy. The article presents the problems of cognitive disorders caused by chemotherapy in cancer patients. These deficits in scientific terminology are called chemobrain. Patients in particular indicate disorders of: longterm verbal memory and executive functions (planning, verbal fluency and working memory). This is confirmed by the results of neuroimaging studies. It has been observed that higher doses of cytostatics may contribute to the development of cognitive deficits. This article is a general introduction to the problems of chemobrain - the definition of the phenomenon and a discussion of neuroanatomical issues related to the influence of chemotherapy on the central nervous system. Moreover, the article tries to draw attention to the application of neuropsychological rehabilitation after chemotherapy.
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