A group of researchers have identified simple treatments for cognitive impairment during treatment for cancer patients. Experts have observed changes in memory, thinking, attention, judgement and other factors related to mental abilities in the process of chemotherapy (treatment for cancer patients).
A clinical trial suggests that exercise, and low-dose ibuprofen may help counter such side effect as cognitive decline in the process of treatments. According to experts, cognitive changes are a majorly common side effect of chemotherapy, affecting up to 80 percent of patients.
Often described as ‘brain fog,’ these symptoms can include difficulty in concentrating, memory slips, as well as handling daily tasks. While usually mild, they can still interfere with work, relationships, and overall quality of life.
A Phase II clinical trial now suggests that both exercise and low-dose ibuprofen may help reduce these symptoms and support cognitive function. Published in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the findings suggest that while exercise and anti-inflammatory drugs have cognitive benefits in other conditions, their role during cancer treatment is not well understood.
They note that since both approaches reduce inflammation through different biological pathways, combining them could potentially enhance their effects on cognitive health. In the process of the study, scientists enrolled 86 chemotherapy patients who reported cognitive issues and randomly assigned them to one of four groups for six weeks:
Exercise for Cancer Patients (EXCAP), a home-based programme that includes low-to-moderate intensity walking and resistance exercises that gradually increase over time, plus low-dose ibuprofen, EXCAP plus placebo, low-dose ibuprofen alone, or placebo alone.
After six weeks, participants in the EXCAP plus placebo group showed significantly better attention compared with those in the placebo group. Patients who took only ibuprofen also improved more than those receiving a placebo.
In addition, participants in both the EXCAP plus ibuprofen and EXCAP plus placebo groups reported fewer noticeable cognitive issues, based on feedback from others such as family members, friends, or coworkers.
However, the ibuprofen-only group showed less improvement in short-term verbal memory than those not taking ibuprofen, a result that requires further study, the authors observed.
