- Study: Over 75,000 cancer patients experience memory issues during treatment
- Researchers suggest excess brain calcium as the potential cause
Scientists believe they have identified the underlying cause of ‘chemo-brain,’ a condition characterized by memory and attention problems among cancer patients undergoing treatment.
According to American researchers, these cognitive issues may be attributed to an excessive amount of calcium in the brain. They suggest that this finding could lead to the development of new treatments to restore cognitive function in affected individuals.
Calcium is a vital mineral for bone health and is commonly found in dairy products. It also plays a crucial role as a messenger in cells throughout the body.
However, an accumulation of calcium is known to occur in patients with heart failure and atrial fibrillation, a common heart disorder characterized by irregular heartbeats.
Researchers from Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center discovered that chemotherapy also leads to ‘calcium leaks’ in the brain.
The tested mice exhibited memory problems, struggling with mazes and navigating obstacles. The researchers also found that one of their experimental drugs was able to reduce the calcium leaks and alleviate cognitive symptoms in the mice.
Dr. Andrew Marks, a professor of physiology and cellular biophysics and co-author of the study, stated, “As a clinician, I often ask my cancer patients, ‘What is the most significant issue you face in your daily life?’ Brain fog is one of the top concerns they raise, which is often challenging for busy clinicians to address. This is a critical problem with a substantial unmet medical need.”
The study also supports the argument that calcium leaks play a crucial role in cognitive deficits in general. Calcium excess within cells is observed in patients with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, long Covid, and PTSD.
Cancer Research UK estimates that approximately 28% of the nearly 400,000 individuals diagnosed with cancer in the UK each year receive chemotherapy as part of their treatment.
Around 75% of these patients report memory and cognitive problems, although these issues typically resolve within six to nine months after treatment completion, according to experts.
Other common side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, fatigue, and hair loss.
