Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37509292›Full record

ArticleCancers2023

The Impact of Mindfulness on Functional Brain Connectivity and Peripheral Inflammation in Breast Cancer Survivors with Cognitive Complaints.

Michelle Melis, Gwen Schroyen, Jeroen Blommaert, Nicolas Leenaerts, Ann Smeets, Katleen Van Der Gucht, Stefan Sunaert, Sabine Deprez

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cancers, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
1.8field-weighted citation impact, top 14% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Cancer-related cognitive impairment in adult cancer survivors: a clinical practice review for healthcare providers.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Review
  3. Global landscape and hotspot analysis of meditation research in cancer: a bibliometric study.Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice · 2026
    Article
  4. Mindfulness Meditation and Network Neuroscience: Review, Synthesis, and Future Directions.Biological psychiatry. Cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Michelle MelisDepartment of Imaging and Pathology, Translational MRI, Catholic University Leuven, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
Gwen SchroyenDepartment of Imaging and Pathology, Translational MRI, Catholic University Leuven, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-9646-5106
Jeroen BlommaertLeuven Brain Institute, Catholic University Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-4746-9688
Nicolas LeenaertsLeuven Brain Institute, Catholic University Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Ann SmeetsLeuven Cancer Institute, Catholic University Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Katleen Van Der GuchtTilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, 5037 AB Tilburg, The Netherlands.
Stefan SunaertDepartment of Imaging and Pathology, Translational MRI, Catholic University Leuven, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0002-1177-4680
Sabine DeprezDepartment of Imaging and Pathology, Translational MRI, Catholic University Leuven, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.ORCID 0000-0001-7451-5355
KU Leuven · BEResearch Foundation - Flanders · BETilburg University · NL

Funding

Kom op tegen Kanker NAResearch Foundation - Flanders 1S68621N
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) has been linked to functional brain changes and inflammatory processes. Hence, interventions targeting these underlying mechanisms are needed. In this study, we investigated the effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on brain function and inflammatory profiles in breast cancer survivors with CRCI.

methodsFemale breast cancer survivors reporting cognitive complaints (

resultsNo ROI-to-ROI functional connectivity changes were identified. Compared to no intervention, graph analysis showed a larger decrease in clustering coefficient after mindfulness and physical training. Additionally, a larger increase in global efficiency after physical training was identified. Furthermore, the physical training group showed a larger decrease in an inflammatory profile compared to no intervention (IL-12p70, IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-8).

conclusionBoth mindfulness and physical training induced changes in the functional organization of networks related to attention, emotion processing, and executive functioning. While both interventions reduced functional segregation, only physical training increased functional integration of the neural network. In conclusion, physical training had the most pronounced effects on functional network organization and biomarkers of inflammation, two mechanisms that might be involved in CRCI.

Indexed as

breast cancercognitionfunctional connectivitygraph theoryinflammationmindfulnessMRIresting state

Identifiers

PMID37509292
PMCPMC10377401
OpenAlexW4384525626

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.