The radiation of breast cancer linked to reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s in the study

Cancer is generally not associated with health benefits, but a new study suggests that it could reduce the risk of dementia for certain patients.

A study led by the National Seoul University College of Medicine suggests that breast cancer survivors may have a slightly lower chance to develop Alzheimer’s disease compared to those who had not undergone treatment.

In the study, which was published in Jama Network Open, data of more than 70,000 breast cancer survivors were compared to a control group without cancer for an average of 7.3 years.

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Overall, breast cancer survivors – especially those who were 65 and over – showed a risk of dementia of 8% within five years of treatment.

Those who have received radiation showed the most risk reduction, according to the researchers.

A new study suggests that cancer treatment could reduce the risk of dementia for certain patients. (istock)

The study was adjusted for other factors that could have contributed to the risk of Alzheimer, in particular age, income levels, geographic location, body mass index, comorbidities (diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and chronic kidney disease) and health -related behavior (smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity), said the study.

This result is in conflict with previous concerns concerning patients with breast cancer with cognitive decline after treatment.

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Chemotherapy has already been linked to an affection called “chemo-cenveau”, where patients experience a cognitive decline.

“The chemo’s brain refers to cognitive dysfunction, including problems of reflection and memory, which occur in cancer patients during and after chemotherapy,” the researchers wrote.

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This is different from Alzheimer’s, however – with the “chemo brain”, cognitive impairment is described as “subtle” and does not allow the patient to recover distant memories.

“The concerns about chemo-end and long-term side effects of breast cancer treatment on cognition are common, but our results suggest that this treatment does not lead directly to MA,” noted the researchers.

Overall, breast cancer survivors – especially those who were 65 and over – showed a risk of dementia of 8% within five years of treatment. (istock)

In fact, they have said that some studies have shown that certain drugs given to patients with breast cancer can help reduce the formation of amyloid and tau protein in the brain, which is one of the characteristics of Alzheimer.

Based on the results, researchers recommend that patients with breast cancer take measures to reduce the modifiable risk factors of Alzheimer, such as smoking and diabetes, as well as the treatment of standard cancer.

Study limitations

The study had certain limits, recognized the team.

Information on the patient’s breast cancer stage and the dose of radiation was not available. It is also possible that the number of Alzheimer’s diagnostics has been underestimated.

In addition, as the study focused on patients with “operational” breast cancer, it may not represent the risk of Alzheimer in elderly patients, those with “critical comorbidities” or patients with an advanced disease, researchers noted.

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“We could not assess the long-term increase in the risk of advertising because our follow-up period was relatively short (maximum, 11 years),” they wrote.

“Additional studies with long -term observation periods are justified to examine long -term associations between the risk of the MA and the duration of survival of breast cancer.”

According to the Alzheimer’s association, around 7.2 million Americans and more currently live with Alzheimer’s. (istock)

Maria C. Carrillo, Ph.D., Director of Chief Sciences of the Alzheimer association and chief of medical affairs in Chicago, stressed that this research subject was explored in previous studies.

“There have been many published reports of observational studies on cancer survivors with a reduction in the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, but also some who have found an increased risk,” Fox News Digital Carrillo told this most recent study.

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The expert warns to draw “steep conclusions” on the basis of this study.

“Previous research on the survival and treatment of cancer and the risk of Alzheimer’s, largely cited by the authors of this article, has produced mixed – even contradictory results,” said Carrollio. “Additional research is necessary – in particular longer studies in more representative study populations.”

Those who have received radiotherapy have shown the most risk reduction, according to the researchers. (istock)

The most interesting aspect of this study, said Carrillo, is the conclusion that radiotherapy was associated with a reduction in the risk of Alzheimer 23%, while other cancer treatments have shown no risk reduction.

This could be due to the ability of radiation to reduce inflammation levels, the expert suggested.

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“Reducing inflammation in the body and brain can reduce amyloid beta or slow amyloid beta production, delaying the appearance of symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease,” she said. “Additional research is necessary to see if this is, in fact, the case.”

According to the Alzheimer’s association, around 7.2 million Americans and more currently live with Alzheimer’s.

Fox News Digital contacted study researchers to comment.