For many cancer patients, chemotherapy brings an unwelcome side effect: mental fog that makes everyday tasks harder. But a new clinical trial offers hope: a simple home-based exercise program significantly improved attention and reduced noticeable cognitive problems in patients undergoing treatment.
The Research
Researchers at the University of Rochester and the Wilmot Cancer Institute, led by Michelle C. Janelsins, PhD, MPH, enrolled 86 cancer patients who reported cognitive difficulties during chemotherapy. Participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups for six weeks: a progressive walking and resistance exercise program (EXCAP) plus low-dose ibuprofen, EXCAP plus placebo, ibuprofen only, or placebo only.
Results, published in the journal CANCER, showed that those in the EXCAP plus placebo group performed significantly better on attention tests than the placebo-only group. The ibuprofen-only group also showed improvements in attention. Moreover, when friends, family, or coworkers were asked about participants' cognitive slips, both the EXCAP plus ibuprofen and EXCAP plus placebo groups showed fewer observed problems compared to the placebo group.
However, ibuprofen's effects were less consistent: it did not help short-term verbal memory, and the authors note that further research is needed.
Why It Matters
Chemo brain can affect up to 80% of patients, making it difficult to concentrate, remember, or multitask. This study provides some of the first evidence that simple interventions—especially exercise—might protect cognitive function during treatment without extra medications. Since exercise has many other health benefits for cancer survivors, these findings are particularly encouraging.
What You Can Do
If you're undergoing chemotherapy and struggling with focus, talk to your healthcare provider before starting any program. But adding a regular, moderate walking or resistance routine may help keep your mind sharp.
Source: ScienceDaily Mind & Brain
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