Breast cancer chemo may speed up brain aging, new study suggests

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * The neuropsychological assessments were designed and validated in English and are not currently available in other languages. Translation of questionnaires into other languages would require reestablishing the reliability and validity of these measures. Therefore, participants must be able to communicate in English to complete the tests. Friend nominated, non-cancer controls will be frequency matched on age (+/- 5 years), education (less than college vs. some college and above), and race will be recruited using the same eligibility criteria as survivors except for no history of cancer. For cancer patients, eligibility includes: * As per medical record or self-report, post-menopausal female * As per medical record or self-report, age 60 or older at recruitment * As per medical record or self-report, age 55 or older at the time of breast cancer diagnosis * As per medical record or self report, for cancers other than breast cancer or non-melanoma/basal cell skin cancer/squamous cell skin cancer: * Patient must be at least 3 years post diagnosis of that cancer * Not received chemotherapy treatment or external beam radiation for that cancer * As per medical record or self-report, 5-15 years post diagnosis of breast cancer at the time of enrollment * As per medical record or self-report, no evidence of any cancer disease * American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stages 0-III breast cancer survivor as per clinical judgment/electronic medical record (EMR) * Score of \< 11 on the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test (BOMC) * In the judgment of the consenting professional, able to communicate well enough in English through verbal and written communication to complete the study assessments and provide informed consent * English proficiency verified through an adapted Bidimensional acculturation scale, score of 2.5 or above \*\*\*The scale will only be administered to participants who report also speaking a language other than English. For controls participants, eligibility includes: * As per medical record or self-report, post-menopausal female * As per medical record or self-report, age 60 and older at recruitment * In the judgment of the consenting professional, able to communicate well enough in English through verbal and written communication to complete the study assessments and provide informed consent °English proficiency verified through an adapted Bidimensional acculturation scale, score of 2.5 or above. \*\*\*The scale will only be administered to participants who report also speaking a language other than English. * Score of \< 11 on the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test (BOMC) * As per self report, no history of treatment with chemotherapy * As per self report no history of cancer except non-melanoma/basal cell skin cancer squamous cell skin carcinoma Exclusion Criteria: * For cancer patients, exclusion criteria includes: * As per medical record or self report, diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorder that affects cognitive function (e.g., Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, dementia, seizure disorders, etc) * As per medical record or self report, history of stroke or head injury requiring visit to the emergency room or hospitalization * As per medical record or self report, diagnosis of major Axis I psychiatric disorder including schizophrenia, manic-depressive disorder, or substance use disorders * As per self report or in the judgment of the consenting professional, visual or auditory impairment that would preclude ability to complete assessments * As per self report or as confirmed by the medical record, if the patient is taking anti-depression or anti-anxiety medication, \< 2 months on these medication or a change in the prescribed dose in the past 2 months * Previously or actively participating in protocol MSK IRB# 10-079 * For control participants, exclusion criteria include * As per self report, diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorder that affects cognitive function (e.g., Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, dementia, seizure disorders, etc.) * As per self report, history of stroke or head injury requiring visit to the emergency room or hospitalization * As per self report, diagnosis of major Axis I psychiatric disorder including schizophrenia, manic-depressive disorder, or substance use disorder * As per self report, or in the judgment of the consenting professional, visual or auditory impairment that would preclude ability to complete assessments * As per self report,if the person is taking anti-anxiety or anit-depression medication \<2 months on these medications or a change in the prescribed dose in the past 2 months * Previously or actively participating in protocol 10-079