Cognitive impairment of brain tumor patients

Abstract

Patients with brain tumors often present cognitive impairment, which is a major cause of deterioration of quality of life. Patients with brain tumors exhibit local symptoms at the site of the brain tumor. Brain tumors with high malignancy destroy normal cells and cause cerebral edema. Cognitive function may be greatly affected. Surgery, radiotherapy, antiepileptic drugs, and rehabilitation are treatments related to cognitive impairment. In addition, because the evaluation battery and time differ among research studies conducted, systematic comparison of the effects of factors on cognitive function is difficult. Evaluating cognitive function is potentially useful for grasping the present condition of patients, determining the therapeutic effect of surgery, and furthermore detecting the progress or recurrence of brain tumor.