Middle East Journal of Cancer

The Effect of Memantine on Cognitive Impairments in Patients with Brain Tumour under Radiotherapy: A Randomized Clinical Trial Study

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

Simin Hemati 1
Hamid Emami 1
Susan Andalibi 1
Ehsan Mohammad Hosseini 2
Shahin Salarvand 3

1 Department of Radio-Oncology, Medical School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Department of Neurosurgery, Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran

3 Hepatitis Research Center, Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran

https://doi.org/10.30476/mejc.2022.90186.1567
Abstract
Background: Cognitive impairment is one of the common problems in patients undergoing radiotherapy, but there is no way to prevent it until this time. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of memantine on the prevention of cognitive impairment in patients with brain tumour undergoing radiotherapy.
Method: In this clinical trial study, 70 patients under radiotherapy were selected and randomly divided into two groups. The first group received 10 mg of memantine tablets daily for six months and the second group received placebo at the same dose and time. Cognitive impairment was evaluated through Mini-Mental Status Examination questionnaire and compared between the two groups.
Results: The mean score of cognitive impairment before and after radiotherapy in the control and intervention groups were 27.97 ± 1.52 and 27.66 ± 1.35 (P = 0.26), in the following month were 27.74 ± 1.74 and 27.63 ± 1.35 (P = 0.73), in the following three months were 23.17 ± 1.81 and 24.77 ± 1.44 (P < 0.001), and in the following six months were 20.66 ± 1.8 and 23.17 ± 1.42 (P < 0.001). In addition, changes in cognitive impairment score were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: It seems that memantine is effective in preventing the cognitive impairment in patients undergoing radiotherapy following brain tumour surgery and the implementation of this referee can be associated with improved cognitive function over time.

Keywords

Radiotherapy
Brain
Tumour
Cognitive impairments
Memantine

How to cite this article:

Hemati S, Emami H, Andalibi S, Mohammad Hosseini E, Salarvand S. The effect of memantine on cognitive impairments in patients with brain tumour under radiotherapy: A randomized clinical trial study. Middle East J Cancer. 2023;14(2): 270-7. doi:10.30476/mejc.2022.90186.1567.

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