Study: Is there a link between exercise and memory in breast cancer survivors?
Contents
At a glance | Guidelines |
Findings | In-depth |
Clinical trials | Limitations |
Questions for your doctor | Resources |
STUDY AT A GLANCE
This study is about:
Whether exercise helps memory impairment in breast cancer survivors.
Why is this study important?
Breast cancer survivors frequently report experiencing memory impairment, which is linked to depression, anxiety, and fatigue. In this study, the researchers wanted to know how exercise is related to memory impairment, and its effects in breast cancer survivors.
Study findings:
- Breast cancer survivors who exercised more had less fatigue and distress (anxiety, depression, stress, and/or concern about recurrence) and scored better on memory tests.
What does this mean for me?
The researchers propose a model where more exercise leads to less fatigue and distress, which results in less memory impairment for breast cancer survivors. More work needs to be done to confirm the link between exercise and memory impairment.
Exercise provides many health benefits. According to the Centers for Disease Control (), exercise helps people to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, reduce their risk for some cancers, increase their chances of living longer, and strengthen bones and muscles, among other things. Breast cancer survivors experiencing memory impairment and its associated distress and fatigue should talk to their health care providers to see what other things they can do to improve their symptoms.
Posted 8/2/16
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Reference
Phillips SM, Lloyd GR, Awick EA, et al. “Relationship between self-reported and objectively measured physical activity and subjective memory impairment in breast cancer survivors: role of self-efficacy, fatigue and distress.” Psycho-Oncology. Published online first on July 8rd, 2016.
Disclosure
FORCE receives funding from industry sponsors, including companies that manufacture cancer drugs, tests and devices. All XRAYS articles are written independently of any sponsor and are reviewed by members of our Scientific Advisory Board prior to publication to assure scientific integrity.
This article is relevant for:
People diagnosed with early stage breast cancer
This article is also relevant for:
people with breast cancer
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IN DEPTH REVIEW OF RESEARCH
Study background:
Cancer survivors experience a number of long-term side effects that can range from physical problems to psychological and emotional issues. Researchers previously studied how memory impairment affects anxiety, depression and fatigue in breast cancer survivors. In this study, they looked at how lifestyle choices such as regular exercise affect memory impairment and the symptoms associated with it.
In the July 2016 edition of the journal Psycho-Oncology, Siobhan Phillips and her colleagues from Northwestern University and the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign published their work about the relationship between exercise and memory impairment.
Researchers of this study wanted to know:
Can exercise help ease the symptoms associated with memory impairment (fatigue, anxiety, and/or depression) for breast cancer survivors?
Population(s) looked at in the study:
The study followed 1477 women. The women were at least 18-years-old, had been diagnosed with breast cancer, were English speaking, and had completed treatment for their cancer. The majority of the women were white (about 97%) and were diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ () or ( 1 or II) disease.
When women enrolled in the study they took surveys that evaluated their level of physical activity, distress, fatigue, and memory impairment. They then took the same survey 6 months later. A random subset of the participants wore accelerometers to measure their activity.
Study findings:
- Breast cancer survivors who exercised more had less fatigue and distress (anxiety, depression, stress, and/or concern about recurrence) and scored better on memory tests.
- Breast cancer survivors who exercised more had higher “exercise self-efficacy” meaning they believed that they would be able to exercise either three or five times each week.
- Breast cancer survivors who had high exercise efficacy had lower levels of fatigue and distress (depression, concerns about recurrence, perceived stress, anxiety).
- Breast cancer survivors who had low fatigue and distress scored higher on the Frequency of Forgetting test (which included questions such as where participants had put things, directions, and names), meaning they had less memory impairment than women who had high fatigue and distress.
Limitations:
The study population of this research study was mostly white (about 97%), highly educated and had high annual household income. Because of this, the results of this study may not hold true for all women. Additionally, the researchers only had one follow-up after 6 months. More work should be done to extend this time period.
Memory impairment can also be affected by many factors in addition to exercise, so more work should be done to include diet and other psychosocial factors.
Finally, because this study used participants’ self-reported results, their reporting could be biased. Future studies should be done that include objective measures of functioning (the researchers only looked at the relationships between exercise and anxiety/fatigue, and the relationship between anxiety/fatigue and memory impairment—they did not look at function directly after exercise). Additionally, among women who had less fatigue/anxiety, it was not determined whether that was because they exercised more.
Conclusions:
The results of this study suggest that exercise may be beneficial for memory impairment in breast cancer survivors. More work needs to be done to study this relationship; however, breast cancer survivors who are not exercising should work with a health care professional to create an exercise plan, as there are many established benefits to exercising.
Posted 8/2/16
Share your thoughts on this XRAYS article by taking our brief survey.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network and the American Cancer Society have recommendations for physical activity for cancer survivors:
- Physical activity and exercise recommendations should be tailored to each person's abilities and preferences.
- People should try to engage in some physical activity daily; this may include:
- taking the stairs.
- walking more.
- Each week, people should try to achieve the following:
- At least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, with an ideal goal of 300 minutes, 75 minutes of vigorous activity or a combination of the two.
- Two to three sessions of strength/resistance training that include all of the major muscle groups (chest, shoulders, arms, back, core and legs).
- Stretch major muscle groups at least two days per week.
- Avoid sitting or lying down for long periods and other prolonged sedentary behavior.
Updated: 03/08/2023
- I am a breast cancer survivor. Which type of health care provider can I see for follow up survivorship care?
- How often and how long should I exercise?
- Are there any exercises I should avoid?
- What are other things I can do to help improve anxiety, depression, and/or fatigue after breast cancer?
- Can you refer me to a personal trainer?
The following are studies focused on exercise for people diagnosed with breast cancer.
- NCT04000880: AMPLIFY: An Online Weight Loss Study Specifically for Cancer Survivors. AMPLIFY is a nation-wide, web-based diet and exercise study recruiting overweight survivors of early breast, , ovarian, renal, colorectal, endometrial cancer and multiple myeloma age 50 and older who are interested in becoming more active, eating better and losing weight.
- NCT04621721: Physical Activity at Home for Relief from Neuropathy Caused by Taxanes in People with Breast Cancer. This study will look at the effects of gain and balance training and resistance exercise (using bands) on gait, balance, and lower extremity muscle strength after a 16-week home-based exercise program compared to educational materials without an exercise program.
- NCT04298086: A Study of the Body's Response to Exercise and a Plant-Based Diet in Overweight Postmenopausal Women With Breast Cancer. This study is looking to find out what effects exercise and a plant-based diet have on aromatase levels in postmenopausal women who are overweight and being treated with an aromatase inhibitor for their HR+ breast cancer.
- NCT05327452: Testing Home-based Exercise Strategies in Underserved Minority Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy: the THRIVE Study. The purpose of this research is to determine whether a 16 week, home-based, aerobic and resistance exercise intervention will increase physical activity levels in Black and Hispanic breast, colorectal, or cancer patients.
- NCT03761706: Impact of Home-based Aerobic and Strength Exercises During Chemotherapy for Early Breast Cancer on Biomarkers of Aging. To determine if engagement in physical activity during chemotherapy will have a moderating effect on increases in p16 levels during chemotherapy.
- NCT03824145: Every Day Counts: A Lifestyle Program for Women With Breast Cancer (EDC).This study will examine dietary and activity patterns, body composition, blood and quality of life in breast cancer patients. The study will recruit 176 women with MBC in Milwaukee and Chicago.
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NCT04298086: A Study of the Body's Response to Exercise and a Plant-Based Diet in Overweight Postmenopausal Women With Breast Cancer. This study is looking at the effects exercise and a plant-based diet have on aromatase levels in postmenopausal women who are overweight and being treated with an aromatase inhibitor.
Visit our Featured Research Page and Research Search and Enroll Tool to find additional studies enrolling people with, or at high risk for cancer.
Updated: 03/22/2023
The following studies are looking at management of side effects:
Multiple cancers
- NCT03581357: Mobile Mindfulness Meditation to Improve Neuropathy in Cancer Survivors. The studies a mobile app for cancer-related neuropathy in people with breast, colorectal, endometrial, pancreatic, and other cancers, who have finished treatment and are experiencing neuropathy.
- NCT02296450: Quality of Life (QoL) Assessment in Cancer Patients and Survivors With Dermatologic Conditions Using Dermatologic QoL Instruments. This large study is designed to see how skin conditions that are related to different kinds of cancer or cancer treatments affect a patient's overall well-being.
- NCT04262180: Physical Activity Promotion for Breast and Endometrial Cancer Survivors. This study is looking at whether messaging and coaching can increase activity level and how moderate-to-vigorous activity improves symptoms and quality-of-life in women diagnosed with breast or endometrial cancer.
- EnergyPoints: A Mobile App Guiding Use of Acupressure for Cancer-related Fatigue and Sleep Disturbances. This study is looking at the use of acupressure to manage cancer-related fatigue and sleep disturbances.
Breast cancer
- NCT04621721: Physical Activity at Home for Relief from Neuropathy Caused by Taxanes in People with Breast Cancer. This study will look at the effects of gain and balance training and resistance exercise (using bands) on gait, balance, and lower extremity muscle strength after a 16-week home-based exercise program compared to educational materials without an exercise program.
- NCT04586530: Telehealth and Memory Study (TAMS). The overall purpose of this trial is to confirm the effectiveness of Memory and Attention Adaptation Training (a cognitive-behavioral therapy) as a treatment for chemotherapy-related dysfunction among breast cancer survivors.
- NCT02290834: Chemotherapy-induced and brain changes in older adults with breast cancer. The study will investigate abilities and brain images before and after chemotherapy to identify people at risk for side effects and to better understand the effects of treatment on brain structure and function.
- NCT04906200: Web-Based Symptom Monitoring and Self-Management Portal for Adolescent and Young Adult Breast Cancer Survivors. This compares a web-based patient-reported symptom-monitoring and self-management portal to standard therapy in young breast cancer survivors.
- NCT04049695: Improving Cognition After Cancer (ICAN). This study will test whether physical activity can improve cognition in breast cancer survivors and help the development of physical activity guidelines for cognition in breast cancer survivors.
- NCT04086875: A Text-based Tool to Improve Adherence to Hormone Therapy in Patients With Hormone Positive Breast Cancer. This trial studies how well text messaging works to improve adherence to hormone therapy in people with breast cancer.
- NCT04837820: The Effect of Acupuncture on Cancer-Related Difficulties. This study will test whether acupuncture can improve thinking and insomnia in breast cancer survivors. This study will also look at insomnia's link to difficulties.
- NCT03996265: Bupropion in Reducing Cancer Related Fatigue in I-III Breast Cancer Survivors. This will study how well the drug bupropion (welbutrin) reduces cancer-related fatigue in I-III breast cancer survivors.
- NCT02831582: Omega-3 Supplementation to Prevent Aromatase Inhibitor-Induced in Patients With I-III Breast Cancer. This study looks at omega-3 fatty acid supplementation to prevent aromatase inhibitor-induced side effects in patients with I-III breast cancer.
- NCT03879629: TrAstuzumab Cardiomyopathy Therapeutic Intervention With Carvedilol (TACTIC). Breast cancer patients receiving Herceptin or other HER2-directed therapy are at risk of heart damage. This study is looking at whether beta-blocker drugs could help prevent this from happening.
- NCT01802346: Low Calorie Diet to Reduce Side Effects and Increase Response to Chemo in People With Breast or Cancer. This studies a low calorie diet to reduce side effects and increase response to chemotherapy in patients with breast or cancer.
Colorectal cancer
- NCT04763174: An mHealth Symptom Management Intervention for Colorectal Cancer Patients (mCOPE). The study will look at a mobile health tool to meet the multiple symptom needs and stage-of-life challenges faced by colorectal cancer survivors.
Endometrial cancer
- NCT04713618: Changes in Pelvic Health, Sexual Function, and Quality of Life in Women With Pelvic Cancer Undergoing Radiation Therapy. This study looks at changes in physical measures and patient-reported outcomes of sexual function, intimacy and quality of life.
- NCT04298827: Gyn Onc Prehab Study. This study will compare physical therapy, nutritional counseling and behavioral therapy with physical therapy alone as part of a prehabilitation program. Return of function after surgery, quality of life, patient satisfaction and compliance will be measured.
Ovarian cancer
- NCT04533763: Living WELL: A Web-Based Program for Ovarian Cancer Survivors. This studies a group-based and web-delivered tool for ovarian cancer survivors in increasing quality of life and decreasing stress, depressive mood, anxiety, and fatigue across a 12-month period.
- NCT05047926: Prehabilitation for Advanced Ovarian Cancer Patients. Prehabilitation may improve peri-operative outcomes in patients undergoing cancer surgery. This study will look at structured activity for women undergoing chemotherapy to improve their physical state prior to surgical intervention and thus improve outcomes.
cancer
- NCT03971591: Men Moving Forward: A Lifestyle Program for African-American Cancer Survivors (MMF). This study will look at Men Moving Forward (MMF), a community-based lifestyle intervention that supports adherence to nutrition and physical activity guidelines to promote improved body composition and lessen the side effects of treatment.
- NCT05155501: Pelvic Fascia spARing Radical Prostatectomy TrIAL (PARTIAL). This clinical trial is studying whether pelvic fascia-sparing radical prostatectomy has similar cancer control and sexual function outcomes; and significantly better urinary function, less penile deformity and inguinal hernia risks as compared to radical prostatectomy.
- NCT01802346: Low Calorie Diet to Reduce Side Effects and Increase Response to Chemo in People With Breast or Cancer. This studies a low calorie diet to reduce side effects and increase response to chemotherapy in patients with breast or cancer.
Updated: 02/15/2023
The YMCA has a free program called Livestrong at the YMCA. This program includes a free 12-week membership and fitness training with certified exercise experts. You can search by zip code for a program near you.
Updated: 08/18/2023
Who covered this study?
The Chicago Tribune
Exercise linked to fewer memory problems in breast cancer survivors
This article rates 4.0 out of 5 stars
Tech Times
Exercise may improve stress-related memory problems In breast cancer survivors
This article rates 4.0 out of 5 stars
Oncology Nurse Advisor
Moderate-to-vigorous exercise improves subjective memory in breast cancer survivors
This article rates 3.5 out of 5 stars
US News & World Report
Why breast cancer survivors should exercise
This article rates 3.5 out of 5 stars