Physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cognitive function in postmenopausal women with breast cancer

AbstractPhysical activity may improve cognitive function in women with breast cancer. In a cross-sectional study, we explored the relationship between cognitive function and physical activity (actigraph) and cardiorespiratory fitness (sub-maximal graded exercise test) in 73 postmenopausal women with early stage breast cancer prior to the initiation of systemic adjuvant therapy. Cognitive function was assessed with a standardized battery of neurocognitive measures assessing eight domains. Data were analyzed using partial correlations, controlling for age and total hours of actigraph wear-time. Women were, on average, 63.71 ( ± 5.3) years of age with 15.47 (± 2.48) years of education. For physical activity, greater average number of steps per day were associated with better attention (r = .262,p = .032) and psychomotor speed (r = .301,p = .011); greater average hours of moderate and moderate/vigorous intensity physical activity were associated with better visual memory (r = .241,p = .049;r = .241,p = .049, respectively); and greater average daily energy expenditure was associated with better visual memory (r = .270,p = .027) and psychomotor speed (r = .292,p = .017). For fitness, higher peak maximum VO2 was associated with better concentration (r = .330,p = .006), verbal memory (r = .241,p = .048), and working memory (r = .281,p = .019). These results suggest that higher levels of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with better cognitive function in...
Source: Supportive Care in Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research