What causes cognitive decline in chemotherapy treated cancer survivors? An integrative study using multi-model brain imaging, cognitive testing, measurement of stress & inflammatory biomarkers.

Cognitive impairment has been recognized as a possible adverse effect of breast cancer and its treatment. The aim of the proposed project is to refine earlier findings of the neural correlates of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment using multi-model PET-MRI imaging. This to visualize neuro- inflammation and specify white matter microstructural and functional brain connectivity changes in combination with in-depth neurocognitive testing and measurement of biomarkers reflecting peripheral inflammation.This is important to define biomarkers for therapy-induced cognitive impairment, to identify risk factors increasing vulnerability and to guide choices in cancer treatment and future development of drugs.

Keywords:cancer, chemotherapy, cognitive dysfunction, neuroinflammation, neuroimaging, neurodegeneration, PET-MRI

Disciplines:Multimedia processing, Biological system engineering, Signal processing