Effect of physical exercise on cognitive function after chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer: a randomized controlled trial (PAM study).
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a 6-month exercise intervention, including Nordic/power walking, improves cognitive functioning in chemotherapy-exposed breast cancer patients with cognitive problems.
Results Summary
The exercise intervention improved self-reported cognitive functioning, physical fitness, fatigue, quality of life, and depression, but did not significantly affect tested cognitive functioning except in highly fatigued patients.
Population
Chemotherapy-exposed breast cancer patients with self-reported cognitive problems and lower-than-expected neuropsychological test performance, 2-4 years post-diagnosis.
Effective Dosage
Supervised aerobic and strength training (2 h/week) and Nordic/power walking (2 h/week).
Duration
6 months
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6-month exercise intervention consisting of supervised aerobic and strength training (2 h/week), and Nordic/power walking (2 h/week) | increase | self-reported cognitive functioning | chemotherapy-exposed breast cancer patients with cognitive problems | - | improved | #1 |
6-month exercise intervention consisting of supervised aerobic and strength training (2 h/week), and Nordic/power walking (2 h/week) | increase | physical fitness | chemotherapy-exposed breast cancer patients with cognitive problems | - | significantly improved | #2 |
6-month exercise intervention consisting of supervised aerobic and strength training (2 h/week), and Nordic/power walking (2 h/week) | decrease | fatigue | chemotherapy-exposed breast cancer patients with cognitive problems | - | improved | #3 |
6-month exercise intervention consisting of supervised aerobic and strength training (2 h/week), and Nordic/power walking (2 h/week) | increase | quality of life (QoL) | chemotherapy-exposed breast cancer patients with cognitive problems | - | improved | #4 |
6-month exercise intervention consisting of supervised aerobic and strength training (2 h/week), and Nordic/power walking (2 h/week) | decrease | depression | chemotherapy-exposed breast cancer patients with cognitive problems | - | improved | #5 |
6-month exercise intervention consisting of supervised aerobic and strength training (2 h/week), and Nordic/power walking (2 h/week) | no change | tested cognitive functioning | chemotherapy-exposed breast cancer patients with cognitive problems | - | was not affected | #6 |
6-month exercise intervention consisting of supervised aerobic and strength training (2 h/week), and Nordic/power walking (2 h/week) | increase | tested cognitive functioning | highly fatigued patients | - | positive effect | #7 |
BACKGROUND: Up to 60% of breast cancer patients treated with chemotherapy is confronted with cognitive problems, which can have a significant impact on daily activities and quality of life (QoL). We investigated whether exercise training improves cognition in chemotherapy-exposed breast cancer patients 2-4 years after diagnosis. METHODS: Chemotherapy-exposed breast cancer patients, with both self-reported cognitive problems and lower than expected performance on neuropsychological tests, were randomized to an exercise or control group. The 6-month exercise intervention consisted of supervised aerobic and strength training (2 h/week), and Nordic/power walking (2 h/week). Our primary outcome was memory functioning (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised; HVLT-R). Secondary outcomes included online neuropsychological tests (Amsterdam Cognition Scan; ACS), self-reported cognition (MD Anderson Symptom Inventory for multiple myeloma; MDASI-MM), physical fitness (relative maximum oxygen uptake; VO RESULTS: We randomized 181 patients to the exercise (n = 91) or control group (n = 90). Two-third of the patients attended ≥ 80% of the exercise sessions, and physical fitness significantly improved compared to control patients (B VO CONCLUSIONS: A 6-month exercise intervention improved self-reported cognitive functioning, physical fitness, fatigue, QoL, and depression in chemotherapy-exposed breast cancer patients with cognitive problems. Tested cognitive functioning was not affected. However, subgroup analysis indicated a positive effect of exercise on tested cognitive functioning in highly fatigued patients. Trial Registration Netherlands Trial Registry: Trial NL5924 (NTR6104). Registered 24 October 2016, https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/5924 .