Exercise and Ibuprofen Ease Chemo Brain

A new Phase II clinical trial, led by Michelle C. Janelsins of the University of Rochester and the Knight Cancer Institute, found that both a home-based exercise program (EXCAP) and low-dose Ibuprofen can help mitigate cancer-related cognitive impairment (often called 'chemo brain') in patients undergoing chemotherapy. The study, published by Wiley (publisher) in the American Cancer Society's journal CANCER, randomized 86 patients into four groups: EXCAP + low-dose Ibuprofen, EXCAP + Placebo, low-dose Ibuprofen only, and Placebo only. After six weeks, participants in the EXCAP + Placebo group showed significantly better attention performance than the Placebo group. The Ibuprofen-only group also showed improvements, though less consistently, and exhibited less improvement in short-term verbal memory. The findings suggest exercise has a more pronounced and consistent positive impact on cognitive function, while Ibuprofen may offer some benefits. Further Phase III trials are needed to confirm these results and explore optimal dosages and durations.