Radiotherapeutic effects on brain function: double dissociation of memory systems.

摘要: OBJECTIVE The neurocognitive sequelae of therapeutic cranial irradiation are not well characterized in adults with primary brain tumors. To address this problem, we prospectively examined neuropsychological findings during two phases radiation effects. BACKGROUND Investigations effects have revealed variable outcomes that range from no radiation-associated morbidity to severe cognitive impairment, but relied on case reports or retrospective studies late-delayed changes white matter cognition. No reliable radiographic tools exist describe the multiple METHOD Twenty adult patients (median age, 39 years) a university hospital were treated radiotherapy (RT) for low-grade Prospective longitudinal compared at baseline (after surgery and before irradiation) 3, 6, 12 months after RT examine early-delayed effects, including verbal memory 20 visual 11 patients. We also phase up 3 years determined whether deficit predicted small subset A comprehensive battery was used, tests designed compare learning, storage, retrieval. RESULTS Patients demonstrated normal baseline, decrement, then rebound Deficit recovery 1 year defined memory. Together, these observations constitute double dissociation functions. over time observed other fatigue mood measures. Time-dependent patterns each long-term test relation lesion site individual CONCLUSIONS functions may provide markers damaging facilitative RT. Late-delayed based sample.