Late-onset cognitive impairment and modifiable risk factors in adult childhood cancer survivors

Long-term survivors of childhood cancer may be at elevated risk for new neurocognitive impairment and decline as they age into adulthood. In a cohort study of 2375 adult survivors of childhood cancer and their sibling controls, new-onset memory impairment emerged more often in survivors decades after cancer diagnosis and treatment. The increased risk was associated with cancer treatment, modifiable health behaviors, and chronic health conditions. The authors conclude that these findings suggest that adult survivors of childhood cancer are at elevated risk for new-onset neurocognitive impairments as they age.