Activity & Cognition After Treatment for Breast Cancer
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Breast Cancer, Cancer, Cognitive Studies, Cognitive Studies |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Oncology, Psychiatry / Psychology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 30 - 60 |
| Updated: | 4/21/2016 |
| Start Date: | July 2015 |
| End Date: | April 2016 |
Activity & Cognition After Treatment (ACT) for Breast Cancer
This study addresses an important public health concern; impoverished cognitive function
associated with treatment of breast cancer. Due to increased awareness of breast cancer
combined with advances in medical care, there are over 2.8 million women living with a
history of breast cancer in the U.S. alone. Chemotherapy and adjuvant therapy to remove
cancerous tissue can result in deficits in attention, speed of processing, memory, and
quality of life. Physical activity has been associated with a number of health benefits for
breast cancer survivors including improvements in cognitive function. However, most of the
literature is cross-sectional and it is unclear whether acute (single) bouts of physical
activity affect cognition and, if they do, how long this effect lasts. This study will be
the first, to the investigators' knowledge, to examine the effects of an acute bout of
aerobic exercise on cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors. Specifically, the
investigators will determine the effects of a 30-minute moderate intensity aerobic exercise
session (treadmill walking) on immediate and one hour follow up changes in measures of
processing speed, memory, and executive function. Additionally, accelerometer cut-points for
physical activity intensities in breast cancer survivors will be assessed. Finally, the
investigators will examine the association of cardiorespiratory fitness and physical
activity with changes in cognitive function. Findings from this study will allow researchers
to determine whether any acute effects of exercise on cognition are retained over time and
therefore have real meaning in the context of one's daily life.
associated with treatment of breast cancer. Due to increased awareness of breast cancer
combined with advances in medical care, there are over 2.8 million women living with a
history of breast cancer in the U.S. alone. Chemotherapy and adjuvant therapy to remove
cancerous tissue can result in deficits in attention, speed of processing, memory, and
quality of life. Physical activity has been associated with a number of health benefits for
breast cancer survivors including improvements in cognitive function. However, most of the
literature is cross-sectional and it is unclear whether acute (single) bouts of physical
activity affect cognition and, if they do, how long this effect lasts. This study will be
the first, to the investigators' knowledge, to examine the effects of an acute bout of
aerobic exercise on cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors. Specifically, the
investigators will determine the effects of a 30-minute moderate intensity aerobic exercise
session (treadmill walking) on immediate and one hour follow up changes in measures of
processing speed, memory, and executive function. Additionally, accelerometer cut-points for
physical activity intensities in breast cancer survivors will be assessed. Finally, the
investigators will examine the association of cardiorespiratory fitness and physical
activity with changes in cognitive function. Findings from this study will allow researchers
to determine whether any acute effects of exercise on cognition are retained over time and
therefore have real meaning in the context of one's daily life.
This study addresses an important public health concern: impoverished cognitive function
associated with treatment of breast cancer. Due to increased awareness of breast cancer
combined with advances in medical care, the 5-year survival rate has climbed to 89.2% with
over 2.8 million women living with a history of breast cancer in the U.S. alone.
Unfortunately, the treatment of breast cancer is not without its consequences. Chemotherapy
and adjuvant therapy to remove cancerous tissue can result in deficits in attention, speed
of processing, memory, and quality of life. While past studies have identified memory and
executive function as valuable, important determinants of long-term survival and quality of
life in survivors of different types of cancer, it is unclear if standard care methods alone
prove successful in attenuating declines in these variables. Previous research in breast
cancer populations has found that executive function difficulties, namely in working memory,
cognitive flexibility, and processing speed, as well as fatigue, are the most commonly
described deficits. Furthermore, evidence suggests impairments in cognitive functioning may
persist in up to 35% of breast cancer survivors years after treatment ends.
A behavioral and lifestyle modality known to improve physical and mental health status and
protect against health declines is physical activity. Not only is physical activity known to
protect against a host of diseases, but it also has been shown to provide many health
benefits to breast cancer survivors. While the extant literature suggests that physical
activity can lead to improvements in varying cognitive domains in breast cancer survivors,
another study concluded that only 32% of these survivors meet the recommended guidelines for
physical activity. Additionally, while benefits from physical activity for breast cancer
survivors are well known, there is currently no scientifically recognized physical activity
training program aimed at improving cognitive function in this cohort.
As such, a review chapter examining cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors suggests
more comprehensive studies examining the relationship between objective measures of physical
activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cognitive performance are warranted to gain a
better understanding of the potentially protective effects of fitness and physical activity
on cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors for better survival along the cancer
continuum. In addition, other research has shown that subjective memory impairment, fatigue,
and anxiety plague breast cancer survivors and suggests that breast cancer survivors may
suffer from poorer quality of life as a result. Furthermore, it has been shown that breast
cancer survivors have longer reaction time to working memory tasks compared to healthy,
age-matched controls, and those survivors with higher levels of physical activity had
shorter reaction times for more difficult tasks. A recent study also measured levels of
objective physical activity and found those with higher levels displayed more positive
measures of global cognition.
Despite this evidence, it is unknown if acute (single) bouts of exercise can provide
benefits in varying cognitive domains. Previous research has shown that acute bouts of
aerobic physical activity, of both light and moderate intensity, decrease state anxiety in
breast cancer survivors. However, it is not known if these benefits extend to cognitive
functioning. Furthermore, most of these results are founded in cross-sectional research and
it is unclear whether acute bouts of physical activity improve cognition and, if they do,
how long this effect lasts. This has implications for real world contexts in that, if
benefits are present, breast cancer survivors can find relief in cognitive symptoms quickly
by simply engaging in a bout of physical activity. This study will be the first, to the
investigators' knowledge, to examine the effects of an acute bout of aerobic exercise on
cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors.
associated with treatment of breast cancer. Due to increased awareness of breast cancer
combined with advances in medical care, the 5-year survival rate has climbed to 89.2% with
over 2.8 million women living with a history of breast cancer in the U.S. alone.
Unfortunately, the treatment of breast cancer is not without its consequences. Chemotherapy
and adjuvant therapy to remove cancerous tissue can result in deficits in attention, speed
of processing, memory, and quality of life. While past studies have identified memory and
executive function as valuable, important determinants of long-term survival and quality of
life in survivors of different types of cancer, it is unclear if standard care methods alone
prove successful in attenuating declines in these variables. Previous research in breast
cancer populations has found that executive function difficulties, namely in working memory,
cognitive flexibility, and processing speed, as well as fatigue, are the most commonly
described deficits. Furthermore, evidence suggests impairments in cognitive functioning may
persist in up to 35% of breast cancer survivors years after treatment ends.
A behavioral and lifestyle modality known to improve physical and mental health status and
protect against health declines is physical activity. Not only is physical activity known to
protect against a host of diseases, but it also has been shown to provide many health
benefits to breast cancer survivors. While the extant literature suggests that physical
activity can lead to improvements in varying cognitive domains in breast cancer survivors,
another study concluded that only 32% of these survivors meet the recommended guidelines for
physical activity. Additionally, while benefits from physical activity for breast cancer
survivors are well known, there is currently no scientifically recognized physical activity
training program aimed at improving cognitive function in this cohort.
As such, a review chapter examining cognitive impairment in breast cancer survivors suggests
more comprehensive studies examining the relationship between objective measures of physical
activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cognitive performance are warranted to gain a
better understanding of the potentially protective effects of fitness and physical activity
on cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors for better survival along the cancer
continuum. In addition, other research has shown that subjective memory impairment, fatigue,
and anxiety plague breast cancer survivors and suggests that breast cancer survivors may
suffer from poorer quality of life as a result. Furthermore, it has been shown that breast
cancer survivors have longer reaction time to working memory tasks compared to healthy,
age-matched controls, and those survivors with higher levels of physical activity had
shorter reaction times for more difficult tasks. A recent study also measured levels of
objective physical activity and found those with higher levels displayed more positive
measures of global cognition.
Despite this evidence, it is unknown if acute (single) bouts of exercise can provide
benefits in varying cognitive domains. Previous research has shown that acute bouts of
aerobic physical activity, of both light and moderate intensity, decrease state anxiety in
breast cancer survivors. However, it is not known if these benefits extend to cognitive
functioning. Furthermore, most of these results are founded in cross-sectional research and
it is unclear whether acute bouts of physical activity improve cognition and, if they do,
how long this effect lasts. This has implications for real world contexts in that, if
benefits are present, breast cancer survivors can find relief in cognitive symptoms quickly
by simply engaging in a bout of physical activity. This study will be the first, to the
investigators' knowledge, to examine the effects of an acute bout of aerobic exercise on
cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors.
Inclusion Criteria:
- women between 30 and 60 years of age
- diagnosis of breast cancer
- no longer undergoing treatment
- fluent in English
- no history of dementia or organic brain syndrome
- not currently pregnant
- able to walk unassisted
- no health reasons that would prevent ability to exercise
- not currently enrolled in another exercise research study
- reported trouble with memory/concentration
- physician's consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- male
- no diagnosis of breast cancer
- outside of 30-60 years of age
- currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer
- inability to communicate in English
- history of dementia or organic brain syndrome
- pregnant
- unable to walk unassisted
- other health reasons that may prevent ability to exercise
- enrolled in another exercise research study
- no reported trouble with memory or concentration
- non-consent of physician
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