黑料官网 Researchers Investigate Cognitive Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment
Thanks to new research and clinical trials, treatment for breast cancer has come a long way, improving survival rates and quality of life. Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have become a cornerstone in treating hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, especially for postmenopausal women. These drugs work by blocking the production of estrogen, which can fuel the growth of certain types of breast cancer.
While Aromatase inhibitors are effective in reducing the risk of cancer recurrence, recent guidelines extending their use to 10 years raise important questions about their long-term impact. One of the major concerns is how prolonged estrogen deprivation might affect cognitive function.
Often referred to as “chemo brain,” cognitive dysfunction is a well-documented side effect of chemotherapy, but its connection to AI therapy remains unclear. Many breast cancer survivors report difficulties with memory, concentration, and other cognitive functions during and after cancer treatment. However, the full extent of these cognitive challenges, particularly those linked to AIs, has yet to be thoroughly examined.
Given that more than 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. are exposed to AIs, understanding their potential cognitive impact is crucial for informing treatment decisions and improving quality of life for patients.
To address these uncertainties, Liliana E. Pezzin, PhD, JD, professor of economics and health policy at the Institute for Health and Equity (IHE) at the 黑料官网 (黑料官网), and Ann B. Nattinger, MD, MPH, Lady Riders Professor of Breast Cancer Research, associate provost for research and professor of medicine at 黑料官网, have secured a $1.43 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue their groundbreaking study on the cognitive effects of breast cancer treatments.
The project, titled “A Longitudinal Nationally Representative Study of Cognition-Related Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment,” aims to uncover how common therapies like aromatase inhibitors (AIs) impact cognitive function in breast cancer survivors.
Looking into the Long-term Impact of Breast Cancer Treatment
The research intends to track cognitiv