Purpose: To address the lack of research in older cancer patients, the present study prospectively evaluated their cognitive functions across the first six months following diagnosis and chemotherapy.
Patients and methods: A total of 77 younger (n=43, age < 60) and older (n=34, age > or = 60) cancer patients with hematological disease or cancer of the intestinal tract took part in the study. Medium-term effects of chemotherapy were examined in these cancer patients by means of a battery of cognitive tests during baseline and six months after start of treatment.
Results: In contrast to baseline verbal learning, word fluency and memory capacity improved in all patients six months after start of treatment. A negative effect of age on cognitive functions could not be demonstrated. Additionally, depression was neither associated with medium-term effects of chemotherapy nor was it related to age.
Conclusion: The results suggest that chemotherapy has no negative effects on cognitive functions after the first six months following the onset of treatment. It was demonstrated that complete recovery of cognitive functions is independent of the patient's age.