He noted that factors such as obesity, insomnia and even loneliness have been found to be associated with cognitive impairment among patients who have survived cancer. Sharafeldin N, et al. Dr. Hara was previously an Assistant Professor in Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where she remains an adjunct faculty member. More studies are needed to determine the long-term relationships among cancer, cancer treatments, and cognitive dysfunction. Sharafeldin added that some patients who undergo HSCT seem to be more vulnerable to cognitive impairment and its persistence than others. Chemo brain vs dementia Dementia vs encephalopathy Dementia vs psychosis Schizophrenia vs dementia Download Here Free HealthCareMagic App to Ask a Doctor. Primary care physicians and other clinicians who treat cancer survivors should be aware of each patient’s case and be watchful for signs of cancer-related cognitive decline. In this study (published in early 2011) researchers wanted to see if the chemo drugs that cross the BBB were more likely to interfere with growth of neurons than the chemo drugs that don ’t cross the BBB. Researchers have discovered so much about how the brain works that it can be tempting to think of the person just in terms of their brain, and that changes in a person's behaviour are caused wholly by damage to their brain. “In addition, cancer treatments, including both chemotherapy and radiation, can directly cause damage to the brain through a multitude of mechanisms, including induction of neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and perturbation of normal cellular processes.”. Wagner LI, et al. A study of breast cancer patients reported that in the long-run, dementia diagnoses were more common in women who had chemotherapy treatment than those who had not [5]. J Clin Oncol. Does having ‘chemo brain’ mean I’ll get dementia? Up to 70 percent of cancer patients experience cognitive impairment, including diminished memory, reasoning, and multitasking ability [1] [2]. “I think for any physician assessing cognitive symptoms, these would be the first things to rule out.”. Some strategies to manage chemo brain include getting enough rest, exercising regularly, and using a daily planner or smart phone to keep track of your schedule. The condition is commonly called “chemo brain” or “chemo fog”, even though chemotherapy is unlikely the sole cause of these cognitive problems. Brain HQ . Additionally, these patients may be taking medications for comorbid conditions that may compromise their cognitive function. Also known as cancer treatmentâ related cognitive impairment, it is often described as a decrease in mental “sharpness” before, during, and after cancer treatment, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). “It really is multifactorial. For more about how the brain works and the effects of dementia, see our set of videos below. A second reason I did not want to talk about chemo brain was my job. “These are things we don’t want to miss,” he said. forgetfulness (word search), lack of focus, difficulty multitasking, etc. “There are also many conditions — like anemia, for example — that may result from cancer treatment and are associated with reduced cognitive function,” Wagner said. Radiation doses of … Brain Fog vs. Dementia We all forget things. “Sometimes, it’s confusing,” he said, “In cases where both processes might be going on, I usually consider imaging and/or neuropsychological testing whenever there is a concern for dementia. But, another study showed an association between a history of cancer and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease [6]. There’s hope and many things you can do Posted November 20, 2019, 10:30 am Jorg Dietrich, MD, PhD Contributor. (2010), Ording AG, Jensen AB, Cronin-Fenton D et al. As researchers continue to search for evidence-based approaches to cancer-related cognitive decline, clinicians can make a difference for patients through one simple step: acknowledging the problem. Patients who undergo HSCT often are exposed to conditioning regimens that include total-body irradiation and high-dose chemotherapy. “They are evaluating whether donepezil, which is approved for Alzheimer’s dementia, might help women with breast cancer to preserve their cognitive function,” she said. Peter Cole, MD, can be reached at colepd@cinj.rutgers.edu. Posit Science's Brain HQ brain training program has been proven effective in over 60 peer-reviewed studies, including research involving their software and chemobrain patients. “It is important to identify potential pharmacological strategies.”. Additionally, some changes in cognitive function may be associated with the cancer itself. “In these cases, a comprehensive geriatric assessment would be required, ideally by a geriatric oncologist. What strategies can you incorporate into your day-to-day life that can make up for these changes, so they are less disruptive?”. J Clin Oncol. Mild cognitive impairment and 'chemo brain' should be differentiated from progressive neurodegeneration. Bhatia and Sharafeldin are now conducting studies in which patients identified through the tool as being at high risk receive remediation therapy. “These included the blood-brain barrier genes, meaning that they helped or prevented chemotherapies in going into the brain.”. 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