Associations Of BDNF Methylation And Rs6265 Genotype With Cognitive Response To A Six-Month Aerobic Exercise Intervention In Women With Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Results From The EPICC Trial
Many women undergoing treatment for early-stage breast cancer experience ‘brain fog’ or thinking difficulties, which can significantly impact their daily lives. While we know that physical activity, like aerobic exercise, can sometimes help improve these cognitive issues, the exact biological reasons haven’t been fully understood.
Recent research sheds light on how exercise might be working at a molecular level. Scientists investigated the role of a ‘brain-boosting protein’ called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which is crucial for brain health and known to be influenced by exercise. They looked at how exercise affects ‘DNA methylation,’ a natural process where tiny chemical tags attach to our DNA, acting like switches that turn genes on or off. They also considered a specific ‘genetic variation’ in the BDNF gene.
The findings suggest that a six-month aerobic exercise program can lead to improvements in cognitive functions like attention, mental flexibility, working memory, and processing speed in these women. Importantly, these improvements were linked to changes in DNA methylation at specific spots on our DNA. This means that exercise isn’t just making us feel better; it’s potentially changing how our genes are regulated, which in turn supports better brain function. This discovery highlights new ways to understand and potentially target these molecular pathways to help manage cognitive challenges in women with breast cancer.
Source: link to paper