Slow-growing brain tumors, called IDH mutated gliomas, usually come with a better chance of long-term survival. Treatments often include surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
But a recent study published in the journal Neuro-Oncology shows that many patients experience clear problems with thinking and memory in the first year after treatment—something that has not been studied closely until now.
The study was done with patients from Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg and Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden. It followed 127 people who had surgery, and most of them also received radiation and chemotherapy based on standard treatment guidelines.
These patients took part in detailed cognitive testing both before surgery and again one year later.
The tests showed that “executive functions” were most affected. These are the mental skills we use to plan, organize, and manage daily life. One of the biggest issues found was a reduced ability to shift attention from one task to another.
Language functions also suffered, including slower speaking, trouble learning new words, and problems with memory. These effects were worse in people who had both radiation and chemotherapy after surgery, and in older adults.
This makes sense because these types of gliomas often grow in parts of the brain that control these very abilities: the frontal lobe, which is responsible for behavior, personality, and decision-making, and the temporal lobe, which helps with memory, hearing, emotions, and language.
One of the study leaders, Isabelle Rydén—a Ph.D. student in clinical neuroscience at the University of Gothenburg and a Neuropsychologist at Sahlgrenska University Hospital—explained that patients with these tumors usually live for many years, and many already show changes in cognitive function just one year after treatment.
She stressed the importance of checking patients’ thinking and memory skills regularly, just like we monitor scans and other health signs.
The research team believes these findings show that we need to think more carefully about how and when we give treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. These treatments are important and can help many people live longer. But sticking too closely to standard treatment schedules may not always be best for every individual.
Isabelle Rydén clarified, “This is not about skipping treatment. Some patients clearly need to start treatment right away. But for others whose disease is progressing more slowly, there may be more flexibility. Starting treatment too early could increase the risk of long-term cognitive side effects.”
The researchers now plan to continue their work by studying how patients’ cognitive skills change over time. They want to identify what factors affect this process and which areas of the brain are most sensitive to the side effects of cancer treatment.
This research highlights how important it is to balance cancer treatment with quality of life and mental functioning. By paying more attention to cognitive changes, doctors and patients can make more personalized treatment plans that consider both survival and brain health.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that a low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and vitamin D supplements could strongly reduce cancer death.
For more information about health, please see recent studies about how drinking milk affects the risks of heart disease and cancer and results showing higher intake of dairy foods linked to higher prostate cancer risk.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
