Phase II Trial Suggests Exercise May Help Cancer Patients Combat Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Impairment
A Phase II clinical trial of 86 chemotherapy patients found that exercise combined with placebo significantly improved attention and reduced observed cognitive problems, while low-dose ibuprofen showed more mixed results. Cancer-related cognitive impairment, often called "chemo brain," affects up to 80% of chemotherapy patients and can include memory problems and difficulty concentrating. The findings suggest exercise may be a simple intervention to help preserve cognitive function during cancer treatment, though larger Phase III trials are needed to confirm the results.
Researchers conducted a randomized Phase II clinical trial with 86 cancer patients experiencing cognitive difficulties during chemotherapy to test whether exercise and low-dose ibuprofen could mitigate cancer-related cognitive impairment. Participants were assigned to four groups for six weeks: exercise plus ibuprofen, exercise plus placebo, ibuprofen alone, or placebo only. The study found that exercise, delivered as a home-based low-to-moderate intensity walking and resistance program (EXCAP), produced the strongest cognitive benefits, with participants showing significant improvements in attention and reduced observed cognitive problems compared to placebo. Low-dose ibuprofen showed more inconsistent results, improving attention but paradoxically showing less improvement in short-term verbal memory compared to non-ibuprofen groups. Lead researcher Michelle C. Janelsins emphasized that the findings are encouraging but that larger Phase III trials are needed to confirm results and optimize dosing and duration for both interventions. The study was published in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society.
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Cancer patients found a simple way to stay mentally sharp during chemotherapy
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