Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment and the Potential of Dietary Interventions for the Prevention and Mitigation of Neurodegeneration

Approximately 35% of long-term cancer survivors experience ongoing cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI). Yet, few efficacious interventions exist to prevent or ameliorate CRCI. The underlying biological processes driving CRCI are complex and are reported to include changes in brain structure and function, increased oxidative stress and inflammation, and alterations in gut microbiome composition. Some of the mechanisms promoting CRCI have the potential to be modified through behavioral changes, such as dietary changes. Compelling evidence from randomized controlled trials and observational research supports the positive impacts of the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet on cognition outside of the context of cancer, but studies investigating the MIND diet as an intervention for people who experience CRCI are lacking. This review examines the current state of the science for cognitive outcomes of dietary interventions in aging populations and discusses future opportunities to adapt these interventions to cancer populations.