Cognitive function comprises the brain’s integrative powers to acquire, process, store, and retrieve information. Normal cognitive function is necessary for the cancer patient to relate history accurately, comprehend and follow treatment recommendations, and give informed consent for diagnostic, therapeutic, and research purposes. Deficits in cognitive function imply the presence of an organic mental syndrome that is the result of abnormalities in cerebral physiology or structure. Because some of the etiologic factors of organic mental syndromes can be reduced or eliminated, those caring for cancer patients should be alert for cognitive impairment in its earliest stages. In this article, we will critically review methods currently in use for assessing cognitive function, emphasizing those most relevant for cancer patients.
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Oxman et al. (1986) studied this question.
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