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How does cancer affect motivation?
Jeffrey W Dalley1,2, Mary-Ellen Lynall2
1Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|April 10, 2025
Summary
Cancer-associated inflammation triggers a specific brain pathway, leading to apathy in patients. This research uncovers how inflammatory cytokines disrupt neural circuits, causing this common cancer symptom.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- Apathy is a common and debilitating symptom in cancer patients.
- The underlying mechanisms of cancer-related apathy are not fully understood.
- Inflammatory cytokines are known to affect brain function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how inflammatory cytokines contribute to apathy in cancer.
- To identify the specific brain circuits involved in cancer-related apathy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized mouse models of cancer.
- Administered inflammatory cytokines and observed behavioral changes.
- Employed neuroimaging and molecular biology techniques to analyze brain circuits.
Main Results:
- Inflammatory cytokines were found to activate a specific neural circuit in the brain.
- Activation of this circuit directly correlated with the development of apathy.
- Blocking this circuit ameliorated apathy in cancer models.
Conclusions:
- Inflammatory cytokines hijack a specific brain circuit to induce apathy in cancer.
- Targeting this circuit may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for managing cancer-related apathy.
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