Study: 8 weeks of individualized cognitive rehabilitation improved memory and attention after brain tumor surgery
- 20 patients aged 30–65 who had undergone surgery for brain tumors and showed postoperative cognitive impairment completed an 8-week individualized neuropsychological rehabilitation program of four 60-minute sessions per week.
- Average MMSE scores rose from 24.3 to 27.1 (p < 0.01) and average MoCA scores from 21.8 to 25.9 (p < 0.001); the overall cognitive index increased by 18% (t(19) = 3.42, p = 0.002).[1]
- Among participants who actively used computer-based platforms (CogniFit and BrainHQ), MoCA scores rose by an average of 4.1 points versus 2.3 points in less active participants (p = 0.015).[1]
- What it does not show: the study enrolled only 20 patients, had no control group, and followed patients for just 8 weeks, so practice effects, natural neurological recovery, and the contribution of each program component cannot be separated.
Cognitive impairment after neurosurgery for brain tumors is common: declines in memory, attention, reasoning, and problem-solving are especially frequent in tumors located in the frontal, temporal, and parietal regions (Taphoorn & Klein, 2004). These deficits can significantly limit a patient's independence in daily life and their ability to engage socially.
A 2025 study published in Modern Science and Research set out to identify the cognitive impairments that arise after neurosurgical operations for brain tumors and to evaluate the effectiveness of neuropsychological rehabilitation in addressing them. After an 8-week individualized program, participants' average scores rose on two standard cognitive screens, and the largest gains were seen in those who most actively used computer-based training platforms.
What the study tested
The study followed 20 patients aged 30–65 years who had undergone surgery for brain tumors. All patients exhibited some degree of cognitive impairment postoperatively. Their cognitive status was assessed twice: during the second week after surgery, and again at the eighth week, upon completion of rehabilitation.
Cognitive status was measured with two named, widely used screening instruments: the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). The study also reported indices for memory functions and an attention index derived from the Attention Process Training results.
The intervention was an 8-week individualized cognitive rehabilitation program. Sessions were held four times per week, each lasting 60 minutes. The program combined three components: Attention Process Training (APT) to develop attention control and distribution; memory exercises to strengthen short- and long-term memory; and problem-solving tasks to enhance logical reasoning and analytical thinking (Cicerone et al., 2011). In addition, computer-based cognitive training platforms, CogniFit and BrainHQ, were used, and group sessions plus family psychoeducational meetings were conducted to support patient motivation and emotional stability.
What it found
Scores on the MMSE increased from an initial average of 24.3 ± 2.1 to 27.1 ± 1.6 by the end of the intervention (p < 0.01), indicating a statistically significant improvement in overall cognitive status. The MoCA test showed a comparable change, with the average score rising from 21.8 ± 2.7 to 25.9 ± 2.3 (p < 0.001). According to results from specific tests targeting memory and attention, 60% of patients showed notable improvement in these functions.[1]
| Indicator | Post-surgery (week 1) | Post-rehabilitation (week 8) | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| MMSE, overall cognitive status | 24.3 ± 2.1[1] | 27.1 ± 1.6[1] | p < 0.01[1] |
| MoCA, cognitive function score | 21.8 ± 2.7[1] | 25.9 ± 2.3[1] | p < 0.001[1] |
| Memory functions | 63.5 ± 5.8[1] | 77.9 ± 6.2[1] | p < 0.01[1] |
| Attention index (APT results) | 58.4 ± 6.3[1] | 72.1 ± 5.7[1] | p < 0.01[1] |
| MoCA improvement, CogniFit users | , | +4.1 | p < 0.015[1] |
Improvements in specific cognitive domains included a 23% increase in episodic memory, 19% in working memory, and 16% in problem-solving based on recognition tasks. The overall cognitive index rose by 18%, a change that was statistically significant (t(19) = 3.42, p = 0.002). The authors reported that all major cognitive indicators demonstrated significant improvement following rehabilitation.[1]
More active platform users improved more
Patients who actively used computer-based platforms (the study named CogniFit and BrainHQ) achieved higher outcomes than less active participants. In this group, MoCA scores increased by an average of 4.1 points, compared with 2.3 points in less active participants (p = 0.015). The authors attributed this difference to the way the platforms enabled patients to train independently and consistently throughout the rehabilitation period.[1]
The study also reported that patients who participated more actively in sessions showed improved emotional states and higher motivation during training, effects the authors linked to the group sessions and family psychoeducational meetings, and identified as factors in the recovery process.
Limitations, what this does NOT show
Very small, single-group sample. The study followed only 20 patients and had no control group, so the design cannot separate the rehabilitation effect from practice effects on repeated MMSE/MoCA testing, natural neurological recovery in the weeks after surgery, or regression to the mean.
Multiple components were bundled together. Because the intervention combined Attention Process Training, memory exercises, problem-solving tasks, two computer-based platforms, group sessions, and family meetings, the relative contribution of any single element, including the computer platforms, cannot be isolated from the others.
Short follow-up and limited reporting. Assessment ended at 8 weeks, so whether the gains persisted afterward was not tested. The article did not report tumor types, surgical details, blinding, or a funding source, and the platform comparison (4.1 vs 2.3 points) reflected self-selected, more-active patients rather than a randomized assignment. These results describe cognitive performance outcomes in this small cohort and do not establish that any product treats a brain tumor or postoperative cognitive impairment.
Where this fits in the broader evidence
The study positioned its findings within an established literature: cognitive deficits are well documented in adults with brain tumors (Taphoorn & Klein, 2004), structured cognitive rehabilitation has an evidence base across acquired brain injury (Cicerone et al., 2011), and interventions for cognitive deficits in brain tumor patients have been reviewed specifically (Gehring et al., 2008). For the full list of peer-reviewed research on cognitive assessment and training, see the research index; for related computerized-training evidence in other recovery populations, see CogniFit's pages on stroke and cognition in seniors.
References
- The Impact of Neuropsychological Rehabilitation on Postoperative Cognitive Impairments. Modern Science and Research 2025, 4(5), 332–336. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15367740 The study covered on this page. 20 brain tumor surgery patients, 8-week individualized neuropsychological rehabilitation, significant gains on MMSE and MoCA.
- Cognitive deficits in adult patients with brain tumours. The Lancet Neurology 2004, 3(3), 159–168. doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(04)00680-5
- Evidence-Based Cognitive Rehabilitation: Updated Review of the Literature From 2003 Through 2008. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2011, 92(4), 519–530. doi:10.1016/j.apmr.2010.11.015
- Interventions for cognitive deficits in adults with brain tumours. The Lancet Neurology 2008, 7(6), 548–560. doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(08)70111-x