Trial Information

Computer-Based Training in Patients With Post-Chemotherapy Cognitive Impairment, A Pilot Study

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women in the United States, with an estimated
211,240 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed among women, and 1,700 diagnosed in
men, in 2005. While cure rates have improved significantly, chemotherapy for breast cancer
is associated with a number of negative side effects. One of which is a deficit in
cognitive function, a condition commonly referred to as "chemobrain". While the debate
about cognitive decline being a result of chemotherapy is still ongoing, there is clear
evidence of cognitive decline in women with breast cancer post-chemotherapy. Cognitive
decline is often reported to affect memory, attention, executive functioning and information
processing speed.

Studies suggest that incidence of "chemobrain" ranges from 17% - 75% in women who have
undergone chemotherapy.This cognitive impairment affects quality of life by impacting
patients' ability to concentrate, make decisions and to fulfill family, career, and
community responsibilities.

Although there is uncertainty about the mechanisms that can lead to this cognitive decline,
there is a pressing need to identify interventions that will alleviate its symptoms and help
breast cancer survivors recover their cognitive functioning and resume their roles and
activities at the pre-cancer level.

Brain plasticity refers to the brain's capacity for physical and functional change; it is
this capacity that explains how experience induces learning throughout life. On the basis
of a growing body of literature in the fields of psychophysics, neurology, neuropsychology,
and brain plasticity, we hypothesize that the brain processing machinery can be refined,
elaborated, and strengthened through rigorous training and learning. The purpose of this
study is to investigate if such training can improve cognitive functioning.

We hypothesize that continuous active interaction with environments that are demanding to
sensory, cognitive, and motor systems, together with imbedded rewards for successful
performance will help improve memory and cognitive functioning in patients suffering from
"chemobrain".