Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) has been reported to negatively affect upwards of 75% of cancer patients undergoing treatment. Treatment and management of CRCI has proven to be a difficult task due to the fact that it has yet to be fully characterized. Some studies have shown that cognitive training or aerobic exercise may mitigate aspects of CRCI. Yet, it is unclear whether simultaneously combining these two interventions could provide additive or synergistic benefits on cognitive function in cancer survivors. PURPOSE: To determine the effects of a quasi-randomized, controlled aerobic and cognitive training intervention on cognitive function in cancer survivors (N = 28). METHODS: Pre and post physical and cognitive assessments were administered. A 36-session computer-based cognitive, aerobic, and flexibility training intervention was completed. Participants were assigned to one of the following groups: aerobic exercise only (AER), cognitive training only (COG), simultaneous aerobic exercise plus cognitive training (AER+COG), or a control flexibility only group (CON). RESULTS: No significant (p > 0.05) main effects between groups and variables were observed. Within groups measures revealed that the AER logical memory scaled scores (+33%), delayed recall scaled scores (+27%), block design scaled scores (+19%), and letter-number sequencing scaled scores (+12%) significantly increased (p < 0.05, respectively) pre-to-post. The CON group significantly (p < 0.05) increased from pre-to-post in controlled oral word association gender, age, and education verbal fluidity subtests (Z-scores). All cognitive scores (AER+COG and COG groups) failed to significantly (p > 0.05) increase pre-to-post. CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic training alone had the greatest impact on cognitive function. Individually, these methods may be appropriate for addressing CRCI in this population, but combined training of this nature may be too demanding for cancer survivors suffering from CRCI.
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