Immunotherapy boosts a person’s own immune system to identify and fight cancer cells that normally evade its defenses.

However, like traditional cancer treatments, immunotherapy may cause or exacerbate cognitive decline, especially in older adults. Because this treatment is much newer than chemotherapy or radiation, these potential side effects have not yet been widely studied.

Gee Su Yang, assistant professor at the UConn School of Nursing, has received a $60,000 CRISP (Clinical Research Innovation Seed Program) Award from the Office of the Vice President for Research to conduct a pilot study of how immunotherapy impacts cognitive function in older cancer patients.