Exercise Associated with Cognitive Function in Older Men with Prostate Cancer Undergoing Androgen Deprivation Therapy

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Oncology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Prostate cancer treatment, specifically androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), can negatively impact cognitive function in older men.
• Understanding modifiable factors like physical activity is crucial for managing ADT side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between physical activity levels and cognitive performance in men with prostate cancer receiving ADT.
• To determine if exercise can mitigate cognitive dysfunction associated with prostate cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Fifty men aged 65 years and older undergoing at least six months of ADT for prostate cancer were enrolled.
• Participants completed the Godin-Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire and underwent neuropsychological testing.
• Statistical analyses included Pearson's correlations and linear regressions to assess exercise-cognition associations.

Main Results:

• Higher levels of physical activity were significantly associated with improved performance in memory, attention, and executive function tests.
• After controlling for age and education, exercise remained a significant predictor of attention and executive function (p < 0.05).
• Exercise showed a moderate, non-significant trend towards improving memory performance (p < 0.10).

Conclusions:

• Increased physical activity is correlated with enhanced cognitive functioning across multiple domains in men with prostate cancer on hormone therapy.
• Exercise demonstrates potential as a feasible intervention to reduce cognitive impairment in prostate cancer patients.
• These findings provide proof-of-concept for exercise as a strategy to support cognitive health during prostate cancer treatment.