Scientists are still trying to grasp why many breast cancer survivors experience troubling cognitive problems for years after treatment. Inflammation is one possible offender. A recent long-term study of older breast cancer survivors published today within the Journal of Clinical Oncology and co-led by UCLA researchers adds necessary evidence to that potential link.

Higher levels of an inflammatory marker often known as C-reactive protein (CRP) were related to older breast cancer survivors reporting cognitive problems in the brand new study.

Blood tests for CRP are used routinely within the clinic to find out risk of heart disease. Our study suggests this common test for inflammation may additionally be an indicator of risk for cognitive problems reported by breast cancer survivors.”

Judith Carroll, Study Lead Writer, Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Faculty Member, Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at UCLA

The study, called the Considering and Living with Cancer (TLC) Study, is certainly one of the primary long-term efforts to look at the potential link between chronic inflammation and cognition in breast cancer survivors 60 and older, who make up a majority of the nearly 4 million breast cancer survivors in the US. Previous research has focused largely on young women and girls immediately after therapy, making it difficult to attract conclusions about CRP’s role in long-term cognitive problems amongst older breast cancer survivors.  

In TLC, teams of researchers from across the country talked to, and obtained blood samples from, lots of of breast cancer survivors and girls without cancer as much as 6 times over the course of 5 years. The study was motivated by hearing from survivors and advocates that cognitive problems are certainly one of their major worries.

“Cognitive issues affect women’s every day lives years after completing treatment, and their reports of their very own ability to finish tasks and remember things was the strongest indicator of problems on this study,” said co-senior study creator Dr. Jeanne Mandelblatt, a professor of oncology at Georgetown University who’s the lead of the TLC study.

“Having the ability to test for levels of inflammation at the identical time that cognition was being rigorously evaluated gave the TLC team a possible window into the biology underlying cognitive concerns,” said Elizabeth C. Breen, a professor emerita of psychiatry and biobehavioral sciences on the Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology at UCLA, who also served as co-senior study creator.

Cognition, from the attitude of every woman, was evaluated through a commonly used questionnaire assessing how the ladies perceive their ability to recollect things like names and direction, ability to pay attention, and other points of on a regular basis life. The study found higher CRP levels amongst survivors were predictive of lower reported cognitive function amongst breast cancer survivors. There was no similar relationship between CRP levels and reported cognition in the ladies without cancer.

Cognitive performance, as measured by standardized neuropsychological tests, failed to point out a link between CRP and cognition. The authors say this will likely indicate women are more sensitive to differences of their on a regular basis cognitive function, self-reporting changes that other tests miss.

The authors said their study supports the necessity for research on whether interventions that may lower inflammation – including increased physical activity, higher sleep, and anti inflammatory medications – may prevent or reduce cognitive concerns in older breast cancer survivors.

Source:

University of California – Los Angeles Health Sciences

Journal reference:

Carroll, J.E., et al. (2022) Elevated C-Reactive Protein and Subsequent Patient-Reported Cognitive Problems in Older Breast Cancer Survivors: The Considering and Living With Cancer Study. Journal of Clinical Oncology. doi.org/10.1200/JCO.22.00406.