Breast Cancer Treatments Linked to Lower Alzheimer’s Risk

Groundbreaking research suggests that some breast cancer treatments may surprisingly reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals a potential link between radiation therapy and a decreased likelihood of developing this devastating illness.

Breast Cancer Survivors’ Alzheimer’s Risk

The study, led by Dr. Su-Min Jeong from Seoul National University in South Korea, showed that breast cancer survivors had an 8% lower risk of Alzheimer’s compared to women without the disease. Furthermore, breast cancer treatment involving radiation correlated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s.

“This suggests that standard breast cancer treatments, including radiation therapy, may not increase and may even reduce Alzheimer’s dementia risk in the short term,”

—Dr. Su-Min Jeong, Seoul National University

Breast cancer survivors who underwent radiation therapy experienced a lower risk of Alzheimer’s, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.77. Notably, an estimated 6.7 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2023 (Alzheimer’s Association).

Study Details and Findings

Researchers evaluated Alzheimer’s risk in breast cancer survivors versus women without cancer. The retrospective study analyzed data from 70,701 women treated for breast cancer between 2010 and 2016. These women were compared with a control group in a one-to-three ratio, with a median follow-up of 7.3 years.

The research team identified 1,229 Alzheimer’s cases among breast cancer survivors. This translates to an incidence rate of 2.45 cases per 1,000 person-years. This finding implies a slightly decreased risk of Alzheimer’s in breast cancer survivors compared to cancer-free women, with a subdistribution hazard ratio (SHR) of 0.92.

However, landmark analyses showed that this lower risk did not persist beyond five years of survival. The study also found no association between Alzheimer’s risk and chemotherapy treatment. Dr. Jeong and her team are continuing to research long-term health results in cancer survivors, especially regarding breast cancer.

Implications for Patients

According to Dr. Jeong, these findings might reassure breast cancer survivors about their cancer history and treatments, which do not appear to elevate Alzheimer’s risk. Clinicians can use this knowledge to address their patients’ concerns regarding cognitive health.

These outcomes do not provide individual-level risk assessment. However, the study helps reassure breast cancer survivors that their medical history and treatment do not raise their risk of Alzheimer’s. The researchers are focused on cancer prevention and improving health outcomes for survivors.