A systematic review of the neurobiological mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced deficits in executive functions.

ABSTRACT: A subset of cancer patients and survivors experience cognitive decline during and after chemotherapy, a condition known as chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment (CICI). Among the most affected domains are executive functions (EFs) - a set of higher-order cognitive processes essential for goal-directed behaviour, including working memory, behavioural flexibility, and inhibition. Emerging evidence suggests that these domains are differentially susceptible to chemotherapy drugs, implicating the selective disruption of distinct neural circuits and neurochemical pathways. To better understand the underlying mechanisms, we conducted a systematic review of rodent models of CICI, focusing on neurobiological alterations associated with chemotherapy and their relationship to EF deficits. A compr

SUBMITTER: Chen W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12813341 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature