230 Background: Cognitive dysfunction after cancer treatment can be distressing and may profoundly impact quality of life, feasibility of returning to work, and social reintegration. Meaningful, evidence-based options for cancer-related cognitive changes are limited and urgently needed. A standardized rehabilitation program targeting common cognitive problems faced by cancer survivors may represent a safe, low-cost, effective treatment that can be easily disseminated. Emerging from the Haze (Haze) is a 6 week multi-disciplinary clinical program that provides a psycho-educational series to patients who are experiencing changes in cognition or having difficult adjustment after cancer diagnosis or treatment. The Haze course covers topics including: mood and stress management, mindfulness meditation, countering negative automatic thoughts, compensatory strategies for attention, memory, and executive functioning/problem solving, pacing and balance in addition to wellness issues related to cognition such as sleep hygiene, nutrition, social isolation, and exercise. The purpose of this research was to assess changes in the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy Cognitive Scale (FACT-Cog) scores immediately after the intervention and at regular intervals until the 1 year mark. Methods: Patients were given questionnaires including the FACT-Cog on the first day of the Haze series. The FACT-Cog includes the following domains: Perceived Cognitive Impairment (PCI), Perceived Cognitive Abilities (PCA), and Impact on Quality of Life (QOL). The survey battery was repeated on the last day of the series, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after the series. Results: Based on the first 110 patients with various cancer types that have completed Haze, highly statistically significant improvements have been found in PCI (p < 0.001; Mean Δ = 8.71), QOL (p < 0.001; Mean Δ = 2.09), and PCA ( p < 0.001; Mean Δ= 2.83) based on a before and after comparison of the FACT-Cog. Conclusions: It appears that a multi-disciplinary psycho-educational clinical program to address cognitive changes and adjustment difficulties after treatment can have a positive effect on patients’ perceived cognitive functioning as measured by FACT-Cog.
Effects of Physical Activity on Cognitive Abilities of Dementia Person