About the Lecture
Many cancer patients exposed to a variety of cancer therapies complain of decreased cognitive efficiency that has often been attributed to chemotherapy. Cognitive complaints are common both during and after cancer treatments. This syndrome of cognitive complaints and difficulties is called Cancer Related Cognitive Impairment or CRCI, commonly referred to as “chemo brain” or “chemo fog.” For a subset of cancer survivors, these complaints are persistent and result in difficulties that interfere with their everyday activities. In this lecture, Dr. Ercoli presents an update on potential causes of CRCI and the latest research on strategies and interventions to counter cancer-related cognitive dysfunction.
About the Speaker
Linda M. Ercoli, PhD, is a Health Sciences Clinical Professor and the Director of Geriatric Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA Semel Institute. She is a clinical psychologist with expertise in neuropsychology, aging, and cognitive remediation. Her research activities involve studying the use of neuropsychological tests in conjunction with brain imaging for the early detection and prediction of dementia. Dr. Ercoli has also been active in developing cognitive enhancement intervention programs for older adults with CRCI, age-related cognitive decline and mild cognitive disorders.