J Psychosoc Oncol. 2024 Dec 26:1-15. doi: 10.1080/07347332.2024.2444276. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Young adults report challenges concerning cancer–related cognitive impairment (CRCI). This study aimed to: (1) describe cognition in young adults post-cancer treatment using self-report and performance-based measures, and (2) examine associations between cognition and relevant disease-related, psychological, and lifestyle (physical activity; PA) factors.
METHODS: Forty-six young adults (Mage = 31.4 ± 5.4 years; 91.3% female) completed web-based questionnaires and neuropsychological tests; data were analyzed via descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations.
RESULTS: Most (60.9%) self-reported clinically meaningful CRCI and displayed poorer executive functioning and processing speed (but not working memory) than normative data. Disease-related factors, psychological factors, and PA had null-to-moderate (rs = -0.32-0.28), small-to-large (rs = -0.74-0.77), and trivial-to-moderate (rs = -0.16 – 0.36) correlations with cognition (respectively), with differences in magnitude between self–reported and objective cognition.
CONCLUSION: The observed correlations warrant further exploration in larger prospective studies, and trials should investigate causative mechanisms and specific PA parameters.
PMID:39723581 | DOI:10.1080/07347332.2024.2444276
