Implications of Cortisol in Cognitive Impairment Observed in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review.

IF 3.7 4区心理学 Q3 NEUROSCIENCES

Neuropsychobiology Pub Date : 2026-08-03 DOI:10.1159/000553504

Ángel Rodríguez-Ramos, Raquel Espejo-Siles, Ana Belén Castillo-Miranda, Francisco García-Torres

{"title":"Implications of Cortisol in Cognitive Impairment Observed in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Ángel Rodríguez-Ramos, Raquel Espejo-Siles, Ana Belén Castillo-Miranda, Francisco García-Torres","doi":"10.1159/000553504","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a frequent adverse effect observed in patients, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Cortisol has been proposed as a potential contributor to CRCI, so the aim of this review was to systematically evaluate the evidence on the role of cortisol in CRCI.Methods: This review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024570561). The search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, ProQuest, OSF PREPRINTS, OATD, NDLTD Global E-Theses and Dissertations, and EBSCO. Inclusion criteria were studies on adult cancer patients/survivors assessing cortisol and CRCI, published in English from inception to January 30, 2025. The risk of bias was analyzed with the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies, and a qualitative GRADE-like summary of the certainty of the evidence.Results: Twelve articles were finally included and analyzed using content analysis methods. Overall, findings suggest that altered diurnal cortisol rhythm (i.e., blunted cortisol secretion pattern) might be involved in CRCI; although results are inconsistent and the exact mechanisms remain unknown. Stress response associated to diagnosis, surgery, and life changes, as well as certain treatments, of cancer patients may contribute to dysregulated cortisol secretion, which in turn has been linked to CRCI. Additionally, personality traits and sociodemographic factors may act as mediators between cortisol release and CRCI.Conclusion: Recent data suggest cortisol relates to CRCI; however, future research should standardize cognitive outcomes and cortisol assessment methods, and consider clinical, sociodemographic, and psychological factors that may modulate stress responses.","PeriodicalId":19239,"journal":{"name":"Neuropsychobiology","volume":" ","pages":"1-16"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7000,"publicationDate":"2026-08-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Neuropsychobiology","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1159/000553504","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"NEUROSCIENCES","Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a frequent adverse effect observed in patients, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. Cortisol has been proposed as a potential contributor to CRCI, so the aim of this review was to systematically evaluate the evidence on the role of cortisol in CRCI.

Methods: This review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024570561). The search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, SCOPUS, ProQuest, OSF PREPRINTS, OATD, NDLTD Global E-Theses and Dissertations, and EBSCO. Inclusion criteria were studies on adult cancer patients/survivors assessing cortisol and CRCI, published in English from inception to January 30, 2025. The risk of bias was analyzed with the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies, and a qualitative GRADE-like summary of the certainty of the evidence.

Results: Twelve articles were finally included and analyzed using content analysis methods. Overall, findings suggest that altered diurnal cortisol rhythm (i.e., blunted cortisol secretion pattern) might be involved in CRCI; although results are inconsistent and the exact mechanisms remain unknown. Stress response associated to diagnosis, surgery, and life changes, as well as certain treatments, of cancer patients may contribute to dysregulated cortisol secretion, which in turn has been linked to CRCI. Additionally, personality traits and sociodemographic factors may act as mediators between cortisol release and CRCI.

Conclusion: Recent data suggest cortisol relates to CRCI; however, future research should standardize cognitive outcomes and cortisol assessment methods, and consider clinical, sociodemographic, and psychological factors that may modulate stress responses.

查看原文本刊更多论文

在癌症患者中观察到的认知障碍中皮质醇的含义：一项系统综述。

癌症相关认知障碍（CRCI）是患者中常见的不良反应，但其潜在机制尚不清楚。皮质醇已被认为是CRCI的潜在因素，因此本综述的目的是系统评估皮质醇在CRCI中作用的证据。方法：本综述遵循PRISMA指南，在PROSPERO注册（CRD42024570561）。在PubMed、Web of Science、SCOPUS、ProQuest、OSF PREPRINTS、OATD、NDLTD Global e - thesis and dissertation和EBSCO中进行了检索。纳入标准是成年癌症患者/幸存者评估皮质醇和CRCI的研究，从开始到2025年1月30日以英文发表。偏倚风险分析采用观察性队列和横断面研究质量评估工具，并对证据的确定性进行定性grade样总结。结果：最终纳入12篇文献，采用内容分析法进行分析。总的来说，研究结果表明，皮质醇昼夜节律的改变（即皮质醇分泌模式的钝化）可能与CRCI有关；尽管结果不一致，确切的机制仍然未知。与癌症患者的诊断、手术、生活变化以及某些治疗相关的应激反应可能导致皮质醇分泌失调，这反过来又与CRCI有关。此外，人格特征和社会人口因素可能在皮质醇释放与CRCI之间起中介作用。结论：近期数据表明皮质醇与CRCI相关；然而，未来的研究应该规范认知结果和皮质醇评估方法，并考虑可能调节应激反应的临床、社会人口和心理因素。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

求助全文

约1分钟内获得全文求助全文

来源期刊

Neuropsychobiology 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

7.20

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

6 months

期刊介绍： The biological approach to mental disorders continues to yield innovative findings of clinical importance, particularly if methodologies are combined. This journal collects high quality empirical studies from various experimental and clinical approaches in the fields of Biological Psychiatry, Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology. It features original, clinical and basic research in the fields of neurophysiology and functional imaging, neuropharmacology and neurochemistry, neuroendocrinology and neuroimmunology, genetics and their relationships with normal psychology and psychopathology. In addition, the reader will find studies on animal models of mental disorders and therapeutic interventions, and pharmacoelectroencephalographic studies. Regular reviews report new methodologic approaches, and selected case reports provide hints for future research. ''Neuropsychobiology'' is a complete record of strategies and methodologies employed to study the biological basis of mental functions including their interactions with psychological and social factors.