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Publications

Journal Article Ahead of print

PubMed: 42347767 DOI: 10.1037/neu0001103

Cognitive impairments associated with meningiomas and gliomas in adults: A systematic review.

Neuropsychology

Authors: Sara Goffinet, Xavier De Tiège, Florence Lefranc, Patrick Fery, Hichem Slama, Julie Bertels

Affiliations

  • Laboratoire de Neuroanatomie et de Neuroimagerie Translationnelles, Universite Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institute, Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
  • Department of Neurosurgery, Hopital Erasme, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles, Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
  • Unite de Recherches en Neuropsychologie et Imagerie Fonctionnelle, Centre de Recherches en Cognition et Neurosciences, Universite Libre de Bruxelles Neuroscience Institute, Universite Libre de Bruxelles.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

Meningiomas and gliomas are common adult brain tumors often linked to cognitive impairments. Meningiomas are frequently overlooked as a potential contributor to such impairments, due to their benign, extra-axial, and slow-growing nature. This systematic review compares the type and frequency of cognitive impairments associated with these brain tumors, prior to any therapeutic intervention.

METHOD

Systematic search conducted in ProQuest, PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library identified records on cognitive status of adults with untreated, nonrecurrent gliomas or meningiomas, published between January 01, 2000 and October 01, 2025. Studies using a comprehensive, test-based cognitive evaluation and strict exclusion criteria were included.

RESULTS

Seventy studies (4,277 patients) with minimal risk of bias met the inclusion criteria. Although cross-study comparisons were hampered by heterogeneity in statistical thresholds, reported metrics, inclusion criteria, and neuropsychological assessments, the findings consistently indicated significant impairments across multiple cognitive domains, with comparable prevalence in gliomas and symptomatic meningiomas. Memory and executive impairments prevailed in gliomas, while executive and attentional impairments predominated in meningiomas.

CONCLUSIONS

Cognitive impairments are highly prevalent in patients with symptomatic meningiomas or gliomas. While gliomas do not consistently result in a higher frequency of impairments, this review highlights slight differences in the cognitive domains affected. The role of tumor growth and intra-axial location in cognitive outcomes remains unclear. Comparative studies based on strict inclusion/exclusion criteria and comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations are essential for a better understanding of the pathophysiology of cognitive impairments associated with primary brain tumors. Existing guidelines should be followed to harmonize assessments and enable comparisons. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).

MeSH

Brain Neoplasms, Glioma, Neuropsychological Tests, Brain, Neoplasms, Cognitive Dysfunction, Cognition Disorders, Meningioma, Records, Nervous System Diseases