Study Links Treatment-Induced DNA Damage to Aging and Cognitive Decline

Overview of the Research

A recent study published in the journal Cancer investigates the relationship between treatment-induced DNA damage and its implications for biological aging and cognitive decline. Many commonly used radiotherapies and chemotherapeutic agents can cause significant DNA damage in cancer patients’ cells, leading to accelerated aging processes characterized by specific molecular alterations.

Methodology and Participants

Researchers from the UCLA Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology and the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior conducted the study with data collected from 94 breast cancer patients who had undergone treatment within the last three to six years. The age of the participants ranged from 36 to 69 years, with an average age of 54.6 years.

Biochemical Parameters and Cognitive Function

The first phase of the study focused on analyzing biochemical parameters indicative of biological aging, such as telomere length, telomerase activity, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor II levels in blood cells. These parameters were then correlated with cognitive functions assessed through a series of intelligence tests that measured learning, memory, attention, visual acuity, and spatial acuity.

Executive functions, which evaluate higher cognitive abilities such as prioritizing, planning, and multitasking, were also part of the assessment.

Key Findings

The study revealed that women who experienced higher DNA damage and exhibited lower telomerase activity in their cells tended to perform poorly on executive function tests. Additionally, deficits in attention span and motor speed were found to correlate negatively with telomerase activity, indicating that reduced telomerase activity is linked to declines in these cognitive areas.

Conclusion

Overall, the findings suggest the potential utility of biochemical markers as a means to monitor cognitive functions in patients undergoing cancer treatment. This research contributes to the understanding of how cancer therapies may influence cognitive health and biological aging.

Reference

Carroll, J. E., Van Dyk, K., Bower, J. E., Scuric, Z., Petersen, L., Schiestl, R., … Ganz, P. A. (2018). Cognitive performance in survivors of breast cancer and markers of biological aging. Cancer. doi:10.1002/cncr.31777

Author

Written by Vinayak Khattar, Ph.D., M.B.A.