PURPOSE: To identify the characteristics of adult patients with newly diagnosed 
primary brain tumors associated with identifiable deficits in neuropsychologic 
function to target interventions to improve function and quality of life (QOL).
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adult patients with newly diagnosed primary brain tumors 
and their caregivers were enrolled and underwent a battery of standardized 
neuropsychologic tests, allowing for qualitative and quantitative assessment and 
sensitive to the effects of the brain tumor, QOL, or caregiver stress.
RESULTS: We enrolled 68 patients with no prior radiotherapy. Patients with left 
hemisphere tumors reported significantly more memory problems and depressive 
symptoms. They also exhibited poorer attention and were more distractible, with 
poorer verbal fluency and poorer verbal learning. Patients with glioblastoma 
multiforme demonstrated poorer psychomotor speed and visual tracking than 
patients with non-glioblastoma multiforme histologic features. Patients and 
caregivers perceived QOL in a similar fashion, with significant correlation 
between patient and caregiver on hope testing and general QOL on the Linear 
Analog Self-Assessment Scale.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with left hemisphere tumors and glioblastoma multiforme 
histologic features demonstrated testable differences in neuropsychologic 
function and QOL that may be amenable to improvement with medical therapy or 
tailored rehabilitation programs. Caregiver assessments can predict patient QOL, 
which may be useful in patients with declining status.