Many breast cancer survivors experience difficulties with concentration, clear thinking and memory that can continue for years after treatment. According to lead investigator Sheri Hartman, PhD, a professor at UC San Diego, cancer and its treatments may contribute to accelerated biological aging. Her research suggests that regular exercise may help slow this process, with slower biological aging linked to improvements in cognitive function.

Both studies followed the same group of women. The first was a randomized controlled trial involving 253 inactive women aged 40 and older who had been diagnosed with stage I–III breast cancer within the previous five years and had completed active treatment at least six months earlier.

Participants were assigned either to a health and wellness program with coaching calls or to a 12-month Fitbit-supported exercise program targeting 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each week. The exercise group increased its activity by about 35 minutes per week more than the control group and maintained that difference throughout the study.

Although exercise did not lead to significantly greater improvements in overall perceived cognitive ability or processing speed, researchers found greater improvements in attention at six and 12 months. Memory also showed a short-term improvement at six months. Hartman noted that attention is particularly important because it is commonly affected after cancer treatment and plays a central role in everyday functioning.

A second study examined blood samples from 124 participants at the beginning of the study, six months and 12 months. Using DNA-methylation tests and epigenetic clocks, researchers found that exercise was associated with slower biological aging. Faster epigenetic aging was also linked to poorer attention and self-reported cognitive function.

At the start of the study, participants had an average biological age about 8.7 years older than their chronological age. After one year, women in the exercise group showed slower biological aging, which was associated with greater improvements in attention and self-reported cognition. Researchers also identified DNA-methylation changes in three genes involved in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling, a pathway linked to brain health and neural plasticity.

The researchers emphasize that larger studies are needed to confirm the findings and determine whether changes in biological aging directly contribute to better cognitive function. Future research will explore whether strength training could provide additional benefits and whether similar effects occur in survivors of other cancers.

Source: https://www.insideprecisionmedicine.com/topics/oncology/exercise-improves-cognition-and-biological-aging-after-breast-cancer/