Everybody knows that exercising helps improve the overall health status of individuals. However, a new study conducted by a team of researchers from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine claims that it can also help improve memory problems in breast cancer survivors.
Exercising has long been associated with an increased lifespan and improved health. Now, a new study published in the journal Psycho-Oncology claims that it can also help improve stress-related self-reported memory problems that appear in breast cancer survivors.
Excessive stress has long been associated with the appearance of memory problems in women who once suffered from breast cancer. According to the researchers, breast cancer patients may feel fatigued, stressed, frightened and emotionally unstable, in addition to being low in self-confidence.
A combination of all these characteristics takes a heavy toll on the mental ability of the individual in question and leads to self-perceived memory problems with them.
During the study, a team of researchers led by Siobhan Phillips looked the self-reported exercise and memory data for 1,800 breast cancer survivors. The team found that women survivors who indulged in moderate physical activity each day such as biking, jogging or brisk walking showed fewer signs of fatigue and stress. This, in turn, has numerous psychological benefits and a direct impact on the memory function.
However, the study did not prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship between physical activity and higher confidence levels or less distress among breast cancer survivors.
Most often, radiation and chemotherapy are blamed for the appearance of memory-related issues in breast cancer survivors. However, the researchers say that emotional distress and other emotion-related issues are partially responsible as well.
The researchers have further emphasized the importance of conducting future research in the field to verify and explore the findings further.
