“Gray matter includes neurons that function in cognition and higher-order cognitive processes,” said Dr. Raji. “The areas of the brain that benefited from an active lifestyle are the ones that consume the most energy and are very sensitive to damage.”
A key aspect of the study was its focus on having variety in lifestyle choices, Dr. Raji noted. “What struck me most about the study results is that it is not one, but a combination of lifestyle choices and activities that benefit the brain,” he said.
The positive influence of an active lifestyle on the brain likely resulted from improved vascular health. “Virtually all of the physical activities examined in this study are some variation of aerobic physical activity, which we know from other work can improve cerebral blood flow and strengthen neuronal connections,” he said. “Additional work needs to be done. However, our initial results show that brain aging can be alleviated through an active lifestyle.”
Researchers Find Physiologic Evidence of Chemo Brain
Chemotherapy may induce changes in the brain that may affect concentration and memory. Using PET and CT, researchers detected physiologic evidence of chemo brain, a common side effect in patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer treatment.
“The chemo brain phenomenon is described as ‘mental fog’ and ‘loss of coping skills’ by patients who receive chemotherapy,” said Rachel A. Lagos, DO, diagnostic radiology resident at the West Virginia University School of Medicine and West Virginia University Hospitals in Morgantown. “Because this is such a common patient complaint, health care providers have generically referred to its occurrence as ‘chemo brain’ for more than two decades.”
Although the complaint may be common, the cause of chemo brain has been difficult to pinpoint. Previous MRI studies have found small changes in brain volume after chemotherapy, but no definitive link has been found.
Instead of studying chemotherapy’s effect on the brain’s appearance, Dr. Lagos and colleagues set out to identify its effect on brain function. By using PET and CT, they were able to assess changes to the brain’s metabolism after chemotherapy.
“When we looked at the results, we were surprised at how obvious the changes were,” Dr. Lagos said. “Chemo brain phenomenon is more than a feeling. It is not depression. It is a change in brain function observable on PET and CT brain imaging.”
Dr. Lagos and colleagues analyzed PET and CT brain imaging results from 128 patients who had undergone chemotherapy for breast cancer. They used special software to help discern differences in brain metabolism before and after chemotherapy. Results were correlated with patient history, neurologic examinations, and chemotherapy regimens.
PET and CT results demonstrated statistically significant decreases in regional brain metabolism that were closely associated with symptoms of chemo brain phenomenon. “The study shows that there are specific areas of the brain that use less energy following chemotherapy,” said Dr. Lagos. “These brain areas are the ones known to be responsible for planning and prioritizing.” PET and CT could possibly be used to facilitate clinical diagnosis and allow for earlier intervention.
Research has already shown that patients with chemo brain can benefit from the assistance of nutritionists, exercise therapists, massage therapists, and counselors. In one study, cancer patients receiving chemotherapy complained of losing their ability to prepare family meals. “When the researchers provided these patients with written and planned menus for each meal, the women were able to buy the groceries, prepare the meals, and enjoy them with their families,” said Dr. Lagos.
Future studies could lead the way to better treatment for patients experiencing this condition. “The next step is to establish a prospective study that begins assessing new patients at the time of cancer diagnosis,” said Dr. Lagos. “The prospective study has the potential to establish an understanding of the change in brain neurotransmitters during chemotherapy, which may lead to improved treatment or prevention.”