A new study found that breast cancer survivors have an 8% lower risk of Alzheimer's dementia than cancer-free controls. The study was published in Neurology.
"The risk of AD is a crucial aspect of overall well-being among breast cancer survivors. Concerns about chemobrain and the long-term adverse effects of breast cancer treatment on cognition are common, but our findings suggest that this treatment does not directly lead to AD," wrote the researchers in their study.
A considerable number of breast cancer survivors report cancer-related cognitive impairment and experience difficulties in both concentration and memory during and after treatment. Until now, however, evidence for Alzheimer's dementia among breast cancer survivors has remained mixed and inconclusive.
In the current study, researchers evaluated the risk of Alzheimer's disease among breast cancer survivors with cancer-free controls. To do so, they analyzed national health data from South Korea, including 70, 701 breast cancer survivors with an average age of 53 years old who underwent breast cancer surgery. Breast cancer survivors were matched on a ratio of 1:3 with cancer-free controls. Participants were followed up for a median of 7.3 years. A total of 1,229 survivors developed Alzheimer's.
Ultimately, the researchers found that survivors had an 8% lower risk of Alzheimer's than cancer-free controls and that the link was especially prominent among those aged 65 years and older. Results from landmark analyses, however, found that the lower risk did not persist after 5 years of survival. In terms of treatment modalities, radiation therapy was linked to a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease among survivors.
"This cohort study of breast cancer survivors found a lower risk of AD compared with cancer-free controls, despite common concerns about cognitive decline after treatment. The findings suggest certain cancer treatments potentially have benefits for lower AD risk. Further research is needed to assess the long-term risk of AD in this population," concluded the researchers.
Sources: Neurology, EurekAlert