Does glioblastoma cause forgetfulness? (2024)

Does glioblastoma cause forgetfulness?

Memory loss is a frequent symptom in patients with glioblastomas. It can be related to the cancer itself or treatment. Short-term memory problems interfere with daily living more than long-term memory problems. Fatigue can add to these deficits.

Common symptoms patients with glioblastoma experience include headaches, seizures, confusion, memory loss, muscle weakness, visual changes, language deficit and cognitive changes. Glioblastomas tend to affect older individuals (age 45 to 70) with rare occurrences in children.

If untreated, GBM can quickly grow and spread through the brain. This can lead to ongoing functional loss and increasing intracranial pressure. Headaches, seizures, personality changes, and unstable moods are common.

The frontal lobe of the brain (which is located near the forehead) and the temporal lobe (which is located directly behind and below the frontal lobe) are both involved in speech and memory processes, so it's more likely that issues will develop if a tumor forms in those areas of the brain.

Brain tumour behaviour and personality changes can include: irritability or aggression. confusion and forgetfulness. apathy (lack of interest and motivation)

Importantly, this impairment in neurocognitive function is irreversible and progressive in nature, in some cases developing long after completion of treatment^6,7. It affects various neurocognitive domains, in particular memory, processing speed and executive function, resulting in dementia in 5% of cases^8,9.

These can include decreased appetite, social withdrawal, changes in behavior, and increased fatigue. GBM tumors begin in the cells of the brain or spine that make up the supportive tissue known as “glia.” These tumors grow rapidly due to their remarkable ability to reproduce quickly and invade healthy brain cells.

GBM is a lethal brain cancer that, if left untreated, can end in death within six months or less; thus, it is critical to seek specialist neuro-oncological and neurosurgical care quickly, since this can have an effect on overall survival.

It is estimated that more than 10,000 individuals in the United States will succumb to glioblastoma every year. The five-year survival rate for glioblastoma patients is only 6.9 percent, and the average length of survival for glioblastoma patients is estimated to be only 8 months.

Can a brain tumor cause forgetfulness?

Sadly, brain tumours can cause memory loss or memory difficulties. This can sometimes be because of the tumour affecting the brain or possibly because of the tumour's treatment.

Some people with brain tumours can have difficulty finding words when speaking, difficulty physically speaking, or can struggle using language.

In this case study, we describe a patient with a dementia due to a brain tumor. This unusual cause of dementia illustrates the importance of a thorough evaluation of anyone who experiences relatively sudden changes in cognitive functions.

In glioblastoma patients, fatigue is often associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), but isolated EDS seldom occurs.

Glioblastoma gets the highest grade in its family — grade IV — in part because of its high growth rate. These cancers can grow 1.4 percent in a single day. The growth is happening on a microscopic level, but a glioblastoma tumor can double in size within seven weeks (median time).

Like stages, brain cancer grades range from 1 to 4. The higher the grade, the more aggressive the cancer. However, glioblastomas are always classified as grade 4 brain cancer. That's because this type of cancer is an aggressive form of astrocytoma.

Changes in mental function, mood or personality: Brain tumors can cause people to become withdrawn, moody or inefficient at work. They may feel drowsy, confused and unable to think. Depression and anxiety, especially if either develops suddenly, may be an early symptom of a brain tumor.

Glioblastoma forms from cells called astrocytes that support nerve cells. Glioblastoma can happen at any age. But it tends to occur more often in older adults and more often in men. Glioblastoma symptoms include headaches that keep getting worse, nausea and vomiting, blurred or double vision, and seizures.

We found that the predominant pattern of failure was within the treatment volume, as 81% of patients had an in-field component to their disease progression. Six percent of patients had a marginal component to disease progression, and 28% had a site of failure distant to the treatment field.

Common signs and symptoms of gliomas include: Headache, particularly one that hurts the most in the morning. Nausea and vomiting. Confusion or a decline in brain function, such as problems with thinking and understanding information.

How does glioblastoma affect cognition?

Noll and colleagues recently reported that patients with left temporal lobe gliomas of varying grades had frequent impairments in verbal learning and memory, executive functioning, language, and attention.

Magnetic resonance imaging is the primary diagnostic tool for GBM. The tumor diameter at the time of diagnosis is usually approx. 4 cm [57], although data collected by Simpson et al.

If you have a glioblastoma headache, you will likely start experiencing pain shortly after waking up. The pain is persistent and tends to get worse whenever you cough, change positions or exercise. You may also experience throbbing—although this depends on where the tumor is located—as well as vomiting.

The longest glioblastoma survivor has lived for more than 20 years after diagnosis. While long-term survivors have been documented, these cases are uncommon. Here, we will shed some light on what factors impact survival in patients with glioblastoma to provide a realistic outlook on prognosis.