AUTHOR=Gothe Neha P. , Erlenbach Emily , Salerno Elizabeth A. 

TITLE=Yoga improves self-reported cognitive function among cancer survivors: results from the STAYFit trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cognition

VOLUME=3

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cognition/articles/10.3389/fcogn.2024.1334727

DOI=10.3389/fcogn.2024.1334727

ISSN=2813-4532

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Various physical activity-based interventions have been tested to determine their efficacy in improving cancer related cognitive decline (CRCD), however the role of mind-body practices such as yoga remains to be explored. In this manuscript we present preliminary effects of yoga vs. aerobic and stretching-toning modalities of exercise on CRCD among adult cancer survivors.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Participants (<italic>N</italic> = 78) were randomized to one of the three exercise groups for a duration of 12-weeks and engaged in ≥150 min per week of supervised group exercises. At baseline and following the 12-week interventions, participants completed the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Cognitive Function.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>Results demonstrated a significant group<sup>*</sup>time interaction for FACT-Cog perceived cognitive abilities subscale, with participants in the yoga group demonstrating a significant increase as compared to the aerobic and stretching-toning groups. The FACT-Cog total score showed a significant time effect with all groups demonstrating a significant increase at follow-up. Other subscales did not show any significant improvements.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>These findings provide promising evidence for the effects of yoga on self-reported cognitive function in cancer survivors. Notably, 12-weeks of yoga showed an increase in the perceived cognitive abilities and demonstrated a clinically meaningful increase in total cognitive function as measured by the FACT-Cog, suggesting that this exercise modality has the potential to impact this important health outcome during cancer survivorship.</p></sec><sec><title>Trial registration</title><p><ext-link ext-link-type="uri" xlink:href="https://ClinicalTrials.gov" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">ClinicalTrials.gov</ext-link>, identifier: NCT03650322.</p></sec>