Cognitive function in long-term survivors after treatment for brain metastases compared with normative samples

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Oncology
• Psychology

Background:

• Limited research exists on cognitive function in long-term survivors of brain metastases (BM).
• Assessing cognitive performance in this population is crucial for understanding long-term impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate performance-based cognitive function in long-term survivors of BM.
• To compare cognitive performance against established normative data.

Main Methods:

• Neuropsychological tests were administered to patients with ≥2-year survival after BM diagnosis.
• Tests covered processing speed, executive functioning, mental flexibility, memory, attention, and working memory.
• Standardized z-scores were calculated, with proportions of patients showing subclinical or clinically significant impairment determined.

Main Results:

• Forty-one long-term BM survivors (median age 58) were assessed.
• Patients demonstrated poorer performance than normative samples across most cognitive domains, notably mental flexibility.
• Between 29%-59% showed subclinical impairment and 7%-51% showed clinically significant impairment in at least one domain.

Conclusions:

• Long-term BM survivors exhibit significant cognitive deficits, particularly in executive functioning and mental flexibility.
• These deficits impact daily living and social functioning.
• Clinical care should address these cognitive implications to optimize patient quality of life.