Most cancer patients report cognitive deterioration, such as memory loss and difficulty concentrating as they undergo cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. This has widely come to be known as “chemo brain.” Recent research suggests that exercising and taking a common OTC drug, ibuprofen, can alleviate these cognitive effects of cancer therapy.
The study, which was conducted by a team at University of Rochester Medical Center, was led by Prof. Michelle Janelsins.
The team recruited 86 patients undergoing cancer treatment and divided them into four groups during this Phase 2 clinical study. One group did exercises designed for cancer patients and also took one pill twice each day of the anti-inflammatory ibuprofen. Another group did the exercise and took a placebo pill. A third group took the ibuprofen pill alone without engaging in exercise, while the last group was given a placebo pill and also didn’t engage in exercise.
Six weeks later, the researchers found that the group that exercised while also taking a daily placebo pill exhibited better mental attention when compared to those who took the placebo but didn’t exercise.
The group that took ibuprofen without exercising performed better on mental tasks when compared to the group that only took a placebo pill. This showed that the anti-inflammatory conferred beneficial cognitive effects on patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Notably, family members of the patients that exercised while also taking ibuprofen, as well as those whose loved ones only exercised reported that they noticed significant improvements in the cognitive abilities of the study subjects.
The researchers say that their findings show that while ibuprofen confers beneficial effects on cognitive function among patients undergoing cancer therapy, exercise provides greater and more consistent benefits for patients.
While no adverse events were reported during this study, the team emphasizes that patients should talk to their doctors about any exercise regimen or ibuprofen dose they wish to take during treatment. The clinician will advise them about any potential drug-on-drug interactions or the safety of the specific exercises that the patient wishes to engage in. Each patient is different, so exercises have to be suitable for the specific circumstances of the patient.
The researchers are currently analyzing data from a larger phase 2 trial conducted nationally to see whether similar findings come out of that data. They are also getting ready to do a phase 3 trial testing the effects of exercise and ibuprofen on chemo brain. Their findings could inform clinicians on how to help their patients to combat the cognitive side effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
As this study is moved along the clinical trial process, some companies, such as CNS Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSP) are undertaking R&D programs focused on developing cancer treatments that are not only more effective but also have fewer side effects on the patients that take those medicines.
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