Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2025

Quantifying Cognitive Decrements Caused by Cranial Radiotherapy
Published on: October 18, 2011
Effect of Physical Activity During Chemotherapy on Cognitive Function in Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and
Abstract:
To determine if cancer survivors who perform physical activity (PA) during chemotherapy have improved levels of cognitive function compared to those who do not. E-databases (Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, AMED) were searched from inception to February 4, 2020. Quantitative studies that assessed cognitive outcomes for adults with any cancer type who received chemotherapy concurrent with PA were selected. Risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane's RoB 2, ROBINS-I, and Newcastle-Ottawa scales. A meta-analysis was performed using standardized mean difference (SMD). Twenty-two studies (15 randomized controlled trials [RCTs] and 7 non-RCTs) met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis demonstrated that combined resistance and aerobic training had a small yet statistically significant effect on social cognition compared to usual care (SMD 0.23 [95% CI: 0.04, 0.42], p = 0.020). Combined resistance and aerobic exercise may benefit social cognition in cancer survivors undergoing chemotherapy. Due to high risk of bias and low quality of evidence of included studies, we recommend further investigation to support these findings and make specific PA recommendations.
Related Concept Videos
Cancer Therapies
However, cancer treatments can pose several challenges, as therapies used to kill cancer cells are generally also toxic to normal cells. Moreover, cancer cells mutate rapidly and can develop resistance to chemical agents or radiation therapy. Besides, all types of cancer cells may not respond to the same therapy. Some cancer cells respond to one...
Cancer Prevention
Some...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Diabetes and Cancer
Treatment Resistant Cancers
Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells
Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
Cancer Survival Analysis

