Effects of a twelve-week aerobic and cognitive training intervention on cognitive function in cancer survivors

Abstract : There are more than 100 clinically distinct types of cancer, each having their own symptoms and requiring a different method of cancer treatment. Despite current advances, the positive effects from treatment are often matched and outweighed by negative effects. One of the most prevalently reported symptoms is chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). CRCI has been reported to negatively affect memory, concentration, reaction time, attention, cognition, organizational skills, linguistic abilities, executive function, and activities of daily living. Purpose : To examine the effects of a 12-week aerobic and cognitive training on cognitive function in cancer survivors who have undergone or are currently undergoing adjuvant treatment for cancer. Methods : A total of ten patients who either were going through chemotherapy or had just finished the treatment participated in this pilot study. Groups were composed of cancer-aerobic ( n = 2), cancer- cognitive (n = 2), cancer-aerobic and cognitive ( n = 2), cancer- flexibility ( n = 2), and non-cancer controls ( n = 2). Each subject completed an initial comprehensive physical assessment, cognitive assessment, Quality of Life (QOL) assessment, Piper Fatigue Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. Following these assessments, a 12-week computer-based aerobic training, cognitive training, and flexibility training intervention was completed by every participant. Upon completion of the intervention, all of the variables were reassessed. Results : Friedman’s 2-way non-parametric ANOVA revealed significant (p­< 0.05) differences in QOL, depression, Piper fatigue subtest-B, the plank test, and the Weschler Memory Scale LMII. However, follow-up dependent measures t-tests only confirmed significant decreases in fatigue in the cancer-cognitive group. Conclusion : Although results are preliminary and sample sizes are small, the data would suggest that both cancer survivors and non-cancer controls respond favorably toward aerobic and/or cognitive training and that cognitive training alone may be specifically beneficial for cancer survivors suffering from CRCI. *McNair Research Competition: First place