Michelle Melis, Jeroen Blommaert, Katleen Van der Gucht, Ann Smeets, Brenna C McDonald, Stefan Sunaert, Andra Smith, Sabine Deprez
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) has been associated with altered brain activation after chemotherapy in areas related to working memory. Hence, improving working memory capacity and associated brain activation might aid in the recovery of CRCI. In this study, we investigated the potential of a mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) to impact working memory-related brain activation.
Methods: Female breast cancer survivors reporting cognitive complaints (N=117) were randomized into a mindfulness (n=43; MBI), physical training (n=36; PT), or waitlist control condition (n=38; WL). Participants completed MRI scans before the intervention, immediately after, and three months post-intervention. Task-based functional MRI was used to measure differences between groups over time in working memory-related brain activation while performing a visual-verbal n-back task.
Results: Data of 83 participants (32/26/25 MBI/PT/WL) was included. Compared to the waitlist group, MBI participants showed reduced task-related activation in the right middle frontal and angular gyrus and increased activation in the right dorsal posterior cingulate cortex over time. Compared to the physical training group, MBI participants showed reduced brain activation in the bilateral superior parietal lobule and right dorsal anterior cingulate cortex over time. No differences between physical training and no intervention were identified.
Conclusion: This study showed that an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention can significantly alter brain activation across brain regions involved in working memory, attentional control, and emotion processing during performance of a working memory task. This might aid in the recovery of CRCI.
Implications for cancer survivors: Mindfulness might alter brain activation patterns while performing a working memory task, which might ultimately aid in restoring higher order cognitive functions.
期刊介绍:
Cancer survivorship is a worldwide concern. The aim of this multidisciplinary journal is to provide a global forum for new knowledge related to cancer survivorship. The journal publishes peer-reviewed papers relevant to improving the understanding, prevention, and management of the multiple areas related to cancer survivorship that can affect quality of care, access to care, longevity, and quality of life. It is a forum for research on humans (both laboratory and clinical), clinical studies, systematic and meta-analytic literature reviews, policy studies, and in rare situations case studies as long as they provide a new observation that should be followed up on to improve outcomes related to cancer survivors. Published articles represent a broad range of fields including oncology, primary care, physical medicine and rehabilitation, many other medical and nursing specialties, nursing, health services research, physical and occupational therapy, public health, behavioral medicine, psychology, social work, evidence-based policy, health economics, biobehavioral mechanisms, and qualitative analyses. The journal focuses exclusively on adult cancer survivors, young adult cancer survivors, and childhood cancer survivors who are young adults. Submissions must target those diagnosed with and treated for cancer.