Cognitive deficits in adult patients with high-grade glioma: A systematic review

Understanding language and cognition after brain surgery – Tumour grade, fine‐grained assessment tools and, most of all, individualized approach

“…They are also a key prognosis factor in glioma patients (Gehring et al, 2011). Our results are in line with the revision made by Acevedo‐Vergara et al (2022), who found that HGG is responsible for significant alterations in the cognition of patients. The rapid growth associated with HGG limits the possibility of compensatory processes, which negatively influences prognostics of survival.…”

“…Thus, the daily life independence of patients with brain tumours is mainly supported by a maximally preserved language and cognitive function (Bergo et al, 2016). However, cognitive impairment is frequently reported in patients with gliomas both before and after surgery (Acevedo‐Vergara et al, 2022; Ng et al, 2019; Rijnen et al, 2019) in around 50% of surgically treated patients (Acevedo‐Vergara et al, 2022; Boone et al, 2016; Cochereau et al, 2016; Habets et al, 2014; Ng et al, 2021; Santini et al, 2012; van Kessel et al, 2020), especially in those harbouring high‐grade gliomas (Yamawaki et al, 2021). Cognitive deficits are mainly reported in executive functions, language (e.g., naming and spontaneous speech difficulties), verbal episodic and visuospatial memory, attention and visuoconstructive abilities, as well as in tonic alertness and processing speed (Antonsson, Jakola, et al, 2018; Antonsson, Johansson, et al, 2018; Boone et al, 2016; Cochereau et al, 2016; Norrelgen et al, 2020; Satoer et al, 2013, 2014; Talacchi et al, 2011; Teixidor et al, 2007; Tucha et al, 2003; Wu et al, 2011), all of them underlaid by whole‐brain network disturbances (Derks et al, 2014; Liu et al, 2020).…”

Factors Associated With Neurocognitive Impairment Following Chemoradiotherapy in Patients With High-Grade Glioma: Results of a Prospective Trial

“…CRT treatment is often believed to have a deleterious effect on the neurocognitive abilities of brain tumor patients. Radiation is associated with cerebral atrophy and alterations in white matter networks in patients who survive over a period of time [ 12 ]. A Cochrane Database systematic review on long-term neurocognitive side effects of radiation with or without chemotherapy in glioma patients, however, states that the magnitude of risk association is uncertain due to lack of definitive data [ 20 ].…”

“…Patients with HGG are found to have cognitive deficits more frequently than those with low-grade gliomas due to significant alterations in cognitive domains such as language, attention, memory, empathy and executive functions [ 12 ]. Most treatment naïve glioma patients also suffer from cognitive impairment, which suggests that neurocognitive dysfunction may correlate with the disease itself [ 13 ].…”

Effectiveness of occupational therapy intervention in overcoming cognitive deficits to enhance quality of life in subjects with gliomas.

“…A recent review reveals that the ten most prevalent symptoms in glioma patients are: seizures (37%), cognitive deficits (36%), drowsiness (35%), dysphagia (30%), headache (27%), confusion (27%), aphasia (24%), motor deficits (21%), fatigue (20%) and dyspnea (20%) [6]. High grade gliomas cause alterations in cognitive domains such as language, attention, memory, empathy and executive functions and generate greater cognitive alterations than low grade gliomas, and slower brain plasticity processes [7]. Bilateral thalamic gliomas are one of the rarest types of brain tumor.…”