Chemo Tied to Gut Microbiome Changes and Associated Cognitive Decline
By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, July 23, 2024 -- Gut microbiome change is associated with cognitive decline during chemotherapy for patients with breast cancer, according to a study published online in the August issue of Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
Lauren D. Otto-Dobos, Ph.D., from the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research at The Ohio State University in Columbus, and colleagues analyzed fecal samples, blood samples, and cognitive measures from 77 patients with breast cancer before, during, and after chemotherapy.
The researchers found that chemotherapy altered the gut microbiome community structure and increased circulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). The chemotherapy-induced changes in microbial relative abundance and decreased microbial diversity both were associated with elevated circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and interleukin-6. Participant-reported subjective cognitive decline during chemotherapy was not associated with changes in the gut microbiome or inflammatory markers. However, a decrease in overall objective cognition was associated with a decrease in microbial diversity, independent of circulating cytokines. Compared to individuals without cognitive decline, those with cognitive decline (35 percent) had unique taxonomic shifts in Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides, Fusicatenibacter, Erysipelotrichaceae UCG-003, and Subdoligranulum over the course of chemotherapy treatment.
"These results suggest that microbiome-related strategies may be useful for predicting and preventing behavioral side effects of chemotherapy," the authors write.
One author disclosed ties to Scioto Biosciences.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted July 2024
Read this next
Advanced Biological Age Linked to Increased Risk for Incident Dementia
FRIDAY, May 2, 2025 -- Advanced biological age (BA) may be a risk factor for incident dementia, according to a study published online April 30 in Neurology. Yacong Bo, Ph.D...
Estimated 7.2 Million Americans 65 Years and Older Have Alzheimer Dementia
THURSDAY, May 1, 2025 -- An estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 years and older are living with Alzheimer dementia, and almost all adults feel it is important to diagnose the...
Risk Factors for Alzheimer Disease Linked to Cognitive Function Before Midlife
THURSDAY, May 1, 2025 -- Risk factors for Alzheimer disease are associated with cognitive function starting in the mid-20s, according to a study published in the May issue of The...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.