A new study has investigated the potential link between chemotherapy, the gut microbiome, and cognitive decline. It is well-documented that chemotherapy can lead to behavioral side effects, including a decline in cognitive function. This study aimed to understand how disruptions in the gut microbiome caused by chemotherapy might contribute to cognitive decline and increased levels of inflammatory compounds in the body.A recent study led by senior author Leah Pyter from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine has found that the gut microbiome may play a role in the cognitive side effects of chemotherapy in humans. This potential link between the gut and the brain could lead to the development of treatments for the gut to help improve brain function. The study’s findings have been published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.
The study, which was a clinical longitudinal observational study, aimed to investigate the connection between chemotherapy-induced disruption of the gut microbiome and cognitive decline.In a study of 77 breast cancer patients, samples of feces, blood, and cognitive measures were taken before, during, and after chemotherapy. The research uncovered that chemotherapy leads to a disturbance in the microbiome and causes inflammation. This disturbance in the microbiome is linked to cognitive decline and inflammation. Patients who experienced cognitive impairments as a result of chemotherapy also had distinct changes in their gut microbiome.”Previous studies in mice found that chemotherapy can change the gut microbiome and cause neurological and behavioral effects,” explained Pyter, a researcher at Ohio State’s Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research and member of the Cancer Control Research Program at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. The new research extends this finding to show a connection between the gut microbiome and cognitive performance in humans.Many men also face these side effects.” Chemotherapy can cause common side effects that may lower the quality of life. However, these side effects are often dismissed as just a part of the treatment and not given enough attention. Pyter believes that interventions focusing on the gut microbiome, such as fecal microbial transplantation, could help improve the behavioral side effects of chemotherapy. Researchers at OSUCCC — James are studying how the gut microbiome affects the effectiveness of cancer treatment and its role in either reducing or increasing the risk of cancer. It is important to note that chemotherapy is a crucial treatment for many types of cancer and that side effects should not be overlooked.patients who could benefit from this therapy should not be discouraged from pursuing it, even though some treatment regimens may have challenging side effects,” explained David Cohn, MD, who is currently serving as the interim chief executive officer of the OSUCCC — James. “There is a delicate balance between effectively controlling cancer and managing the side effects, and our team is dedicated to finding ways to improve the quality of life for patients by addressing these side effects.”
Ohio State researchers worked together with The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital on this project.The research was partly funded by a grant from the National Institutes of Health and the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.
