Lower Risk of Alzheimer Disease Seen for Breast Cancer Survivors
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, June 30, 2025 -- Breast cancer survivors have a lower risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) compared with cancer-free controls, according to a study published online June 20 in JAMA Network Open.
Su-Min Jeong, M.D., from the Seoul National University College of Medicine in South Korea, and colleagues examined the risk of AD among breast cancer survivors versus cancer-free controls in a retrospective cohort study using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. A total of 70,701 patients who underwent breast cancer surgery between Jan. 1, 2010, and Dec. 31, 2016, were included and matched in a 1:3 ratio with cancer-free controls; participants were followed for a median of 7.3 years.
The researchers detected 1,229 cases of AD among breast cancer survivors, for an incidence rate of 2.45 per 1,000 person-years. Compared with cancer-free controls, survivors exhibited a slightly lower risk of AD (subdistribution hazard ratio 0.92), especially for those aged 65 years or older (subdistribution hazard ratio, 0.92). This lower risk did not persist beyond five years of survival in landmark analyses. Among survivors, reduced risk of AD was seen in association with cancer treated with radiation therapy (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.77).
"Breast cancer survivors may have a slightly lower risk of AD compared with cancer-free individuals, potentially influenced by cancer treatments, underscoring the need for further research on long-term neurocognitive outcomes in this population," the authors write.
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 June 2025
Read this next
AI Support Improves Breast Cancer Detection Accuracy in Mammography
MONDAY, July 14, 2025 -- Artificial intelligence (AI) support improves radiologists' breast cancer detection accuracy when reading mammograms, according to a study published...
Gabapentin for Back Pain Linked to Increased Risk for Dementia, MCI
FRIDAY, July 11, 2025 -- For adults with chronic low back pain, gabapentin prescription is associated with an increased risk for dementia and mild cognitive impairment (MCI)...
Varying Associations ID'd Between Hormone Therapy, Young-Onset Breast Cancer
THURSDAY, July 10, 2025 -- Associations between hormone therapy and young-onset breast cancer (diagnosed at younger than 55 years) vary, according to a study published online in...
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.