Browsing by Author "Saligan, Leorey N."

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    Association between Cognitive Function and Physical Function, Frailty, and Quality of Life in Older Breast Cancer Survivors
    (MDPI, 2024-07-31) Von Ah, Diane; Rio, Carielle Joy; Carter, Allie; Perkins, Susan M.; Stevens, Erin; Rosko, Ashley; Davenport, Ashley; Kalady, Mathew; Noonan, Anne M.; Crouch, Adele; Storey, Susan; Overcash, Janine; Han, Claire J.; Yang, Yesol; Li, Haiying; Saligan, Leorey N.; Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health
    Background: Older cancer survivors in general are at greater risk for cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI), yet few studies have explored its association with health outcomes. This study examined the association between subjective and objective measures of cognitive function and physical function, frailty, and quality of life (QoL) among older breast cancer survivors. Materials and methods: Older breast cancer survivors who reported cognitive concerns completed surveys on patient-reported cognitive function, physical function, frailty, and QoL as well as objective tests of visuospatial working memory and sustained attention. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and separate linear regression models. Results: A total of 219 female breast cancer survivors completed the study. Perceived cognitive abilities were associated with better physical function, frailty, and QoL (p ≤ 0.001) while cognitive concerns were negatively related with these metrics (p ≤ 0.001). Poorer visuospatial working memory and sustained attention were linked to increased frailty (p ≤ 0.001-0.01), whereas poorer sustained attention was associated with poorer physical function (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Older breast cancer survivors with perceived cognitive impairment and poorer cognitive performance reported poorer physical functioning, increased frailty, and poorer QoL. These findings underscore the importance of assessing cognitive concerns and their associated outcomes in older breast cancer survivors.
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    Associations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor rs6265 polymorphism and cognitive function in breast cancer survivors from a cross-sectional study
    (Wiley, 2024) Goto, Taichi; Saligan, Leorey N.; Li, Xiaobai; Xiang, Lichen; Kwiat, Catherine; Nguyen, Christopher; Crouch, Adele; Von Ah, Diane; School of Nursing
    Background: Breast cancer survivors (BCS) often complain of cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) during and even months after completing primary cancer treatments, particularly chemotherapy. The etiology of CRCI is unknown, but associations of CRCI with germline genetic polymorphisms have been reported, including Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) rs6265 polymorphism. The current study investigated the associations of specific BDNF rs6265 with CRCI. Methods: Cancer-related cognitive impairment was assessed using subjective reports of cognitive symptoms (the version 1.0, 8-item short-forms of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System®) and computerized objective cognitive function scores (CANTAB®). BDNF rs6265 genotypes were determined from buccal swabs. The associations of specific BDNF rs6265 with CRCI were examined by either one-way analysis of variance or the Kruskal–Wallis test followed by post hoc tests and rank-based regression analysis. Results: We examined 356 female BCS. The mean (SD) age was 55.6 (9.8) years old, the median (IQR) years since cancer diagnosis were 4.0 (6.0), and 331 (92.7%) were self-described as White. BCS carrying the Met/Met genotype showed poorer results on ‘visual episodic memory and new learning’ and ‘spatial working memory and executive function.’ This relationship was observed regardless of prior chemotherapy. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that carrying the BDNF rs6265 Met/Met genotype increases the risk for CRCI in BCS. These results are foundational in nature and provide important information to identify mechanisms underpinning CRCI.
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    Correlates of Frailty in Older Female Cancer Survivors
    (Elsevier, 2024) Rio, Carielle Joy; Saligan, Leorey N.; Li, Xiaobai; Crouch, Adele; Von Ah, Diane; School of Nursing
    Introduction: Cancer survivors are at risk of frailty because of cancer and its treatment. Understanding the factors that increase the risk of frailty is an important aspect of cancer care for the development of interventions to prevent or manage frailty, thus improving cancer survival and overall quality of life of cancer survivors. This study aimed to identify demographic, clinical, and psychosocial correlates of frailty in older, female cancer survivors. Materials and Methods: This is a sub-study focusing on the exploratory aim of a larger cross-sectional study (NURS-IIR-IUSCC-0748). A total of 213 female cancer survivors aged 59–87 years old were included from the parent study in the current analysis. Frailty, the primary outcome, was measured using the Tilburg Frailty Indicator scale. The independent variables were age, relationship status, clinical stage of cancer, treatment type, comorbidity, depression, affect, optimism, stress, and social support. Stepwise linear regression modeling identified the independent variables that were significantly associated with frailty. Results: The final regression model revealed that high patient-reported stress and depression, comorbidity, not being married or living with a partner, and low positive affect were significantly associated with worsening frailty in this population. Discussion: Understanding the context of frailty is important for the design of interventions that target factors known to be associated with frailty in older cancer survivors. Further validation with a larger and a more diverse sample from a broad spectrum of sociodemographic and clinical population would fully account for the multiple independent variables influencing frailty in cancer survivors.