Health

Study Supports Link Between Inflammation and Cognitive Impairment in Older Breast Cancer Survivors

Higher C-reactive protein levels are associated with cognitive problems in older breast cancer survivors.

A long-term study in older breast cancer survivors revealed that high levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) were associated with cognitive impairment in this population. Journal of Clinical Oncology.

“The blood test for CRP is routinely used in the clinic to determine the risk of heart disease. It suggests that it may also be an indicator of risk,” said lead study author Judith Carroll, associate professor of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences and faculty member of the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at UCLA. said. UCLA Johnson Comprehensive Cancer Center said in her release to the press.

The Thinking and Living with Cancer (TLC) Study is one of the first long-term efforts to analyze potential links between chronic inflammation and cognition in breast cancer survivors aged 60 and older. The study authors noted that previous studies focused primarily on young women and patients in the immediate post-treatment period, making it difficult to draw conclusions about the association between CRP and long-term cognitive impairment in older breast cancer survivors. there were.

TLC analyzed blood samples from hundreds of breast cancer survivors and cancer-free women up to six times over five years. This study was inspired by multiple survivors and advocates who shared that cognitive issues are a major concern after breast cancer diagnosis.

“Cognitive problems affect women’s daily lives years after completing treatment. In this study, women’s reports of their ability to complete tasks and remember things were the most powerful of the problems.” It was an indicator,” Mandelblat, M.D., a professor of oncology at Georgetown University, said in a press release.

Cognition was assessed through commonly used questionnaires that assess how women perceive their ability to remember their names, directions, etc., concentration, and other aspects of their daily lives. This study showed that higher CRP levels in survivors predicted lower reported cognitive function. Furthermore, there was no similar relationship between CRP levels and reported cognition in cancer-free women.

After being measured by standardized neuropsychological tests, cognitive performance failed to demonstrate a link between CRP and cognition. tests may suggest that they are sensitive to self-reported changes that are missed.

Future research is needed to determine whether interventions such as increased physical activity, better sleep, and anti-inflammatory drugs can prevent or reduce cognitive concerns in older breast cancer survivors.

reference

Long-term studies support an association between inflammation and cognitive impairment in older breast cancer survivors. UCLA Health. September 30, 2022. Accessed October 5, 2022. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/long-term-study-supports-link-between-inflammation-and

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Study Supports Link Between Inflammation and Cognitive Impairment in Older Breast Cancer Survivors