Cognitive impairment

Psychotropic medications (antipsychotics, antidepressants, anxiolytics, anticonvulsants, sedative hypnotics) are commonly prescribed for long term care residents with dementia, and have been associated with negative outcome, such as falls, gait impairment, sedation and cognitive decline. The purpose of this study was to describe differences in assisted living versus nursing home residents with moderate to severe cognitive impairment with regard to the use of psychotropic medications.

PURPOSE: Cognitive impairment is commonly reported by breast cancer survivors, yet little is known regarding its impact on quality of life. The purpose of this study was to obtain a better understanding of breast cancer survivors' experiences of perceived cognitive impairment, its trajectory, and its impact on relationships, daily functioning, work and overall life satisfaction after breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive impairment is a distressing, disruptive, and potentially debilitating symptom that can occur as a direct result of cancer or its treatment. National organizations have identified cognitive impairment as a challenge many survivors face and call for research to address this problem. Despite the priority, research is still relatively limited and questions remain unanswered about prevalence and impact on survivors, as well as coping strategies and effective treatment options available to address this potentially debilitating problem.

CONTEXT: Perceived cognitive impairment (PCI) has been shown to be one of the most common symptoms after breast cancer treatment. However, this symptom does not always correlate with objective cognitive performance and is often highly associated with other patient-reported symptoms.