Mechanisms of radiotherapy-associated cognitive disability in patients with brain tumours

The majority of patients who receive radiotherapy for brain tumours go on to develop disability, but the pathophysiological mechanisms of radiation-associated cognitive decline remains poorly understood. Here, Makale and colleagues review animal model and patient data on the mechanisms of radiotherapy-associated CNS damage and posit that early damage — occurring before 6 months after irradiation — contributes to long-term cognitive disability.