内容紹介
Cancer Treatment for Patients with Dementia
Summary
Cancer is a disease associated with aging. In Japan, the rate of aging is estimated to be over 25%. Further, the prevalence of dementia also increases with age, and cancer patients with dementia are becoming more common. Dementia is a progressive condition characterized by impairment in memory and at least one other cognitive domain(language, praxis, gnosis, or executive function), as well as a compromised ability to perform daily functions. Impairment of short-term memory and executive function in particular are associated with an increased risk for functional decline and mortality. Assessment of cognitive function is necessary to ensure that cancer patients can provide informed consent and understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives of therapeutic treatment. The health care team needs to ascertain whether patients have the mental capacity for cancer treatment, will comply with the treatment schedule, and will understand when to seek help. Elderly cancer patients undergoing treatment need to be assessed for vulnerability with the comprehensive geriatric assessment(CGA).
要旨
超高齢化社会を迎えるとともに高齢がん患者が増加している。高齢がん患者の増加とともに,認知症を合併したがん患者を治療する機会も増えてきた。認知症を合併した場合,がん治療を遂行する上で意思決定能力の有無の確認やアドヒアランスの確保,緊急時の判断が困難になる問題があり,その背景には認知症に伴う短期記憶障害と遂行機能障害が関与する。認知症のがん患者の治療を考える上で,遂行機能障害の有無,社会的支援の有無を評価することは重要であり,高齢者総合的機能評価(CGA)の実施など包括的なアセスメントの確立・普及が望まれる。
目次
Summary
Cancer is a disease associated with aging. In Japan, the rate of aging is estimated to be over 25%. Further, the prevalence of dementia also increases with age, and cancer patients with dementia are becoming more common. Dementia is a progressive condition characterized by impairment in memory and at least one other cognitive domain(language, praxis, gnosis, or executive function), as well as a compromised ability to perform daily functions. Impairment of short-term memory and executive function in particular are associated with an increased risk for functional decline and mortality. Assessment of cognitive function is necessary to ensure that cancer patients can provide informed consent and understand the risks, benefits, and alternatives of therapeutic treatment. The health care team needs to ascertain whether patients have the mental capacity for cancer treatment, will comply with the treatment schedule, and will understand when to seek help. Elderly cancer patients undergoing treatment need to be assessed for vulnerability with the comprehensive geriatric assessment(CGA).
要旨
超高齢化社会を迎えるとともに高齢がん患者が増加している。高齢がん患者の増加とともに,認知症を合併したがん患者を治療する機会も増えてきた。認知症を合併した場合,がん治療を遂行する上で意思決定能力の有無の確認やアドヒアランスの確保,緊急時の判断が困難になる問題があり,その背景には認知症に伴う短期記憶障害と遂行機能障害が関与する。認知症のがん患者の治療を考える上で,遂行機能障害の有無,社会的支援の有無を評価することは重要であり,高齢者総合的機能評価(CGA)の実施など包括的なアセスメントの確立・普及が望まれる。