Neurocognitive evaluation of patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma
Authors' conclusion
Our findings suggest that the cognitive impairments observed in patients with NFPA may result not only from pituitary dysfunction but also from treatment approaches such as reoperations, gamma-knife or radiotherapy. These results highlight the importance of comprehensive neurocognitive assessment and long-term follow-up in the management of NFPA patients, particularly those with hormonal deficiencies or who undergo repeated interventions.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) and matched controls; assessed with Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ), Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) and Memory Functioning Questionnaire (MFQ)matched controls
- Participants
- 80 vs 80
- Comparison
- NFPA patients vs matched controls
- NFPAn = 80
- Controlsn = 80reference
- Outcome
- Neurocognitive functions (CFQ, PRMQ, MFQ; BDI for depression)
Methodological detailscontrols matched for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and educational status
- Controls matched for age, sex, BMI and educational status
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- NFPA had significantly higher CFQ and PRMQ scores than controls, reflecting greater cognitive failure and memory impairment
- MFQ subscales: increased general forgetfulness, severity of forgetting and impaired retrospective function in NFPA (p < 0.05)
- NFPA vs Controls: P < 0.05
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Treatment and name recall (within NFPA)
- Name recall declined as postoperative time increased
- P = 0.029
- Name recall worse after surgery or radiotherapy/gamma-knife
Social dysfunction (within NFPA)
- More common with secondary adrenal insufficiency
- P = 0.038
- More common with higher corticosteroid doses
- P < 0.05
- More common with greater concentration problems
- P = 0.036
Hypogonadism (within NFPA)
- Associated with impaired name recall
- P = 0.040
- Associated with social failure
- P = 0.024
Low IGF-1 (within NFPA)
- Linked to worse prospective memory, more frequent forgetfulness and greater social dysfunction
- P = 0.042
Original publication
Neurocognitive evaluation of patients with non-functioning pituitary adenoma. Pituitary. Published 26 September 2025. doi:10.
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