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Updated: Jul 19, 2025

Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy
Published on: October 18, 2011
Radiotherapy-Induced Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Brain Tumor Survivors: Burden and Rehabilitation
Rakesh Jalali1, Priyamvada Maitre2
1Apollo Proton Cancer Centre, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. rjalali@apollohospitals.com.
Abstract:
Radiotherapy-induced neurocognitive dysfunction after cranial irradiation has an incidence of 40-100%. It may affect both children and adults, and represents a significant burden not only on ill individuals and their caregivers but also on the health care system and society in general. Multiple patient-, tumor-, and treatment-related factors may contribute to development of this complication, but its pathophysiological mechanisms are still not understood clearly. It is hoped that introduction of more advanced techniques for conformal irradiation, optimized dosimetry, and specific prophylactic measures will decrease the risk of neurocognitive decline in brain tumor survivors in the future.
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