To summarize the current evidence of cognitive improvement in cancer survivors receiving specific non-pharmacological interventions with neurostimulatory effects following chemotherapy.
Key Findings:
Mild improvements in cognitive outcomes were observed across all studies, suggesting potential benefits of non-pharmacological interventions.
Weaknesses in studies included small sample sizes, lack of control groups, and biased designs, which limit the generalizability of findings.
Only a handful of trials reported cognitive outcomes in CRCI interventions, indicating a gap in the literature.
Interpretation:
The systematic review highlights the need for large-scale randomized controlled trials that address the identified weaknesses to better assess the impact of non-pharmacological neurostimulatory techniques on CRCI.
Limitations:
Insufficient statistical power and testing, which may lead to unreliable conclusions.
Lack of control groups and randomization, compromising the internal validity of the studies.
Incorrect statistical methods used in studies, potentially skewing results.
Conclusion:
The review provides a rationale for further research into non-pharmacological interventions for CRCI, emphasizing the need for robust study designs.
by Norbert Dosa, Intouch Limvaree, Camila Bonin Pinto, Faddi Saleh Velez, Zalan Kaposzta, Zsofia Szarvas, Zachary C. Pope, Anna Csiszar, Wajeeha Razaq, Ryan D. Nipp, Andriy Yabluchanskiy, Peter Mukli
