Aerobic Dance During Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer Patients With Cognitive Impairment

BACKGROUND: Cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is often reported in breast cancer patients and is characterized by a decline in cognitive functions including memory, processing speed, attention, and executive function. Despite the fact that chemotherapy is a significant cause of CRCI, recent studies have shown that 20-30% of patients may already have cognitive decline prior to chemotherapy and that chemotherapy may exacerbate cognitive impairment in these patients. These findings highlight the importance of providing these patients with appropriate interventions while undergoing chemotherapy. A comprehensive form of aerobic exercise known as aerobic dancing has been demonstrated to be effective in alleviating mild cognitive impairment; however, its potential to alleviate cancer-related cognitive impairment is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of both aerobic exercises on cognitive function during chemotherapy and compare whether aerobic dance differs from fast walking at the same intensity METHODS: In this three-arm randomized controlled trial, 90 breast cancer patients scheduled for chemotherapy will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: aerobic dance, fast walking, or usual care. The aerobic dance group will participate in three weekly sessions of supervised moderate-intensity exercise, lasting fifty minutes each, for twelve weeks. In contrast, the fast walking group receives the same level of fast-walking intervention, but the usual care group receives no exercise interventions. RESULTS: The study used the cognitive scales recommended by the International Cognition and Cancer Task Force (ICCTF) with slight modifications for Chinese. The study also included self-reported cognitive function, and assessments on anxiety and depression, quality of life, and sleep. Lymphedema and anthropometry were also included as exploratory indicators. CONCLUSION: This first-of-its-kind study integrates a novel exercise intervention (Aerobic Dance) with extensive cognitive assessments. If the results are positive, they will serve as a helpful guide for physicians and psychologists to provide women with breast cancer with a comprehensive treatment plan.