HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment: does integrating complementary medicine have something to add? Review of the literature.

Abstract
Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment is a phenomenon of cognitive decline that some patients experience during and after chemotherapy. The prevalence of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment in cancer survivors ranges from 14 to 85 %. Memory loss and lack of concentration are the most frequent symptoms, often resulting in deterioration of daily functioning and a decreased quality of life. Despite ongoing research on chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment, a clear understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the neurotoxicity induced by chemotherapy and the factors that determine a patient's vulnerability are still lacking. We review current knowledge regarding the etiology of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment, risk factors, conventional therapy, coping strategies, and potential complementary and integrative medicine treatments. Complementary and integrative medicine modalities that may improve chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment include mind-body techniques and acupuncture, as well as nutrition and herbal therapies. Studies on these modalities have not directly tested the hypothesis of modifying chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment and were done on different disorders of memory loss and lack of concentration. We recommend conducting further research on the potential role of complementary and integrative medicine modalities in the treatment and prevention of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment.
AuthorsAdva Avisar, Yaron River, Elad Schiff, Gil Bar-Sela, Mariana Steiner, Eran Ben-Arye
JournalBreast cancer research and treatment (Breast Cancer Res Treat) Vol. 136 Issue 1 Pg. 1-7 (Nov 2012) ISSN: 1573-7217 [Electronic] Netherlands
PMID22915072 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
Topics
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity (physiopathology, therapy)
  • Cognition Disorders (chemically induced, physiopathology, therapy)
  • Cognitive Dysfunction (chemically induced)
  • Complementary Therapies (methods, trends)
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life
  • Risk Factors
  • Survivors

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: