Cognitive Function in Older Women With Stage I, Stage II, or Stage III Breast Cancer Receiving Hormone Therapy

RATIONALE: Gathering information about cognitive function over time in postmenopausal women with breast cancer may help doctors learn about the long-term effects of aromatase inhibitor therapy and plan the best treatment. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying cognitive function in older postmenopausal women with stage I, stage II, or stage III breast cancer receiving hormone therapy and in healthy volunteers.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Meets 1 of the following criteria: * Patient diagnosed with breast cancer * Stage I-III disease * Estrogen receptor- and/or progesterone receptor-positive * Planning to start treatment with anastrozole or letrozole * Age-matched healthy volunteer (control) * No history of breast cancer * Not receiving adjuvant aromatase inhibitor therapy PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Postmenopausal * Able to converse, write, and read English * No claustrophobia (patients participating in the PET scan correlative study) PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics * No prior hormonal therapy, including estrogen replacement therapy * No previous treatment with CNS radiation