**1.2. Objectives**

**Keywords:** Cognition, cognitive deficits, brain tumor, cognitive rehabilitation, brain

The term intellect designates the totality of the mental or cognitive operations that comprise human thought, and the higher cortical functions that make up the human mind. Memory is a specific cognitive function: the storage and retrieval of information. Other "higher" functions, such as language, calculations, spatial topography and reasoning, music, and creativity, all

Cognitive functioning of brain tumor patients is an increasingly important outcome measure, because cognitive impairments can have a large impact on self-care, social and professional functioning, and consequently on quality of life (QOL) [2]. Patients with brain tumors often experience cognitive dysfunction associated with the disease itself and its treatment, as well, including surgery, radiotherapy (RT), and chemotherapy. Cognitive dysfunction has been recognized as the most frequent complication among long-term survivors. Despite the many advances made in the treatment modalities and surgical techniques, primary malignant brain cancer is a devastating illness, characterized by poor survival rates and significant morbidity as the disease progresses [3]. For many patients, cognitive changes are part of the disease

Resection of brain tumors may result in improvement of cognitive functions. Teixidor et al. [4] reported long-term improvement of verbal memory, after a transient immediate postopera‐ tive worsening, following frontal premotor and anterior temporal area resection, usually after a transient immediate postoperative worsening. Cognitive improvement has also been observed after surgical resection of high-grade gliomas [5], and in some studies stable, cognitive performance was observed after brain tumor resection, for instance, patients with

Specific cognitive domain deficits after brain tumor removal were observed in some studies. A study conducted by Goldstein et al. [7] reported minimal deterioration in attention after right parenchymal frontal or precentral tumors resection. Another study [8] concluded that right rather than left prefrontal cortex resection was associated with, stroop performance test,

Radiation-induced cognitive impairment in some series is reported to occur in up to 50–90% of adult patients with brain tumor who survive >6 months after fractionated partial or wholebrain irradiation [9]. Moreover, because patients with brain tumor are surviving longer because of improved radiation therapy techniques and systemic therapies [10], the patient population experiencing these significant late effects is growing rapidly. Radiation-induced

process, but the pattern of impairment can vary markedly in different patients.

tumor treatment

242 Neurooncology - Newer Developments

tumors of the third ventricle [6].

selective attentional decline.

represent the functions of specific brain systems [1].

**1. Introduction**

**1.1. Background**

The chapter examines:

