The DOI matches its Crossref record; 71 of the 71 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Cognitive Training for Improving Executive Function in Chemotherapy-Treated Breast Cancer Survivors
Open accessAbstract
Background A majority of breast cancer (BC) survivors, particularly those treated with chemotherapy, experience long-term cognitive deficits that significantly reduce quality of life. Among the cognitive domains most commonly affected include executive functions (EF), such as working memory, cognitive flexibility, multitasking, planning, and attention. Previous studies in other populations have shown that cognitive training, a behavioral method for treating cognitive deficits, can result in significant improvements in a number of cognitive skills, including EF.Materials and methods In this study, we conducted a randomized controlled trial to investigate the feasibility and preliminary effectiveness of a novel, online EF training program in long-term BC survivors. A total of 41 BC survivors (21 active, 20 wait list) completed the 48 session training program over 12 weeks. The participants were, on average, 6 years after therapy.Results Cognitive training led to significant improvements in cognitive flexibility, verbal fluency and processing speed, with marginally significant downstream improvements in verbal memory as assessed via standardized measures. Self-ratings of EF skills, including planning, organizing, and task monitoring, also were improved in the active group compared with the wait list group.Conclusions Our findings suggest that EF skills may be improved even in long-term survivors by using a computerized, home-based intervention program. These improvements may potentially include subjective EF skills, which suggest a transfer of the training program to real-world behaviors.
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“Treatment type is known to impact executive functioning, 79 an important mechanism in ER processes. 48”
From Mindfulness and Psychosocial Symptoms in People with Cancer: Testing Rumination and Experiential Avoidance as Mediators, and Sex as a Moderator. (2025) · cites this paper as [79]
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Do “brain-training” programs work?
Simons, D. J., Boot, W. R., Charness, N., Gathercole, S. E., Chabris, C. F., Hambrick, D. Z., & Stine-Morrow, E. A. L. (2016) · Psychological Science in the Public Interest · doi:10.1177/1529100616661983 · Cited by 1,183
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Metadata
- Authors
- Kesler, S., Hadi Hosseini, S. M., Heckler, C., Janelsins, M., Palesh, O., Mustian, K., & Morrow, G.
- Affiliations
- Stanford Medicine (US)
- University of Rochester Medicine (US)
- Corresponding author
- Kesler, Shelli
- Venue
- Clinical Breast Cancer
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-08
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 299-306
- ISSN
- 1526-8209 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3726272
- OpenAlex
- W1988359564
- Cited by
- 300
- References
- 71
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 17
- FWCI
- 19.24
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Clinical Breast Cancer (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Johns Hopkins University
- National Institutes of Health (1dp2od004445-01)
- National Cancer Institute (K07CA168886)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer-related cognitive impairment studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- cognitive training, executive function, breast cancer survivors, chemotherapy, cognitive impairment, cognitive flexibility, verbal fluency, processing speed, verbal memory, online intervention, home-based intervention, feasibility, quality of life
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Breast Neoplasms, Cognition Disorders, Feasibility Studies, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Health Promotion, Humans, Middle Aged, Prognosis, Quality of Life, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Survivors, Executive Function
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