Cognitive measures in older cancer survivors: An examination of validity, reliability, and minimal detectable change

In the United States, the number of cancer survivors age 65 years and over is projected to reach 22.1 million by 2030 [ [1] Cancer Treatment & Survivorship Facts & Figures 2019-2021. In Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2019. Google Scholar , [2] Cancer Facts & Figures. In. Atlanta: American Cancer Society. 2019 Google Scholar ]. As long-term survival rates increase, cancer has been recognized as a chronic condition of older adults [ [3] Smith B.D. Smith G.L. Hurria A. Hortobagyi G.N. Buchholz T.A. Future of cancer incidence in the United States: burdens upon an aging, changing nation. J. Clin. Oncol. 2009; 27: 2758-2765 Crossref PubMed Scopus (1159) Google Scholar , [4] Huang M.H. Blackwood J. Godoshian M. Pfalzer L. Prevalence of self-reported falls, balance or walking problems in older cancer survivors from surveillance, epidemiology and end results-Medicare health outcomes survey. J Geriatr Oncol. 2017; 8: 255-261 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar ]. With cancer survivors living longer, quality of life during aging is a concern, especially because this population is at risk of adverse health conditions [ [5] de Moor J.S. Mariotto A.B. Parry C. et al. Cancer survivors in the United States: prevalence across the survivorship trajectory and implications for care. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomark. Prev. 2013; 22: 561-570 Crossref PubMed Scopus (411) Google Scholar ]. Of concern is that cancer and its treatment can have a negative impact on cognitive function [ [6] Coughlin S.S. Paxton R.J. Moore N. Stewart J.L. Anglin J. Survivorship issues in older breast cancer survivors. Breast Cancer Res. Treat. 2019; 174: 47-53 Crossref PubMed Scopus (13) Google Scholar ].