SynthesisSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025
The effect of exercise on cognitive function in breast cancer survivors: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Mapping self-awareness of cancer-related cognitive impairment: a scoping review of evidence, methods, and neurobiological correlates.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Pooled it
- Trial
- Chemobrain as a Neuroimmune Syndrome: Mechanisms, Modifiers, and Emerging Multi-Target Therapeutic Strategies.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Longitudinal changes in cognition, sleep, and psychological distress following the MORE program in head and neck cancer patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- The long road after breast cancer: survivorship issues and long-term treatment effects in young women.Frontiers in oncology · 2026Review
- Review
- Comment on "The effect of exercise on cognitive function in breast cancer survivors: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials".Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025Article
- A Comparison of In-Person and Telehealth Personalized Exercise Programs for Cancer Survivors: A Secondary Data Analysis.Cancers · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
- Commented on by
Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
purposeCancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) is a common side effect among breast cancer survivors. Emerging evidence suggests that exercise may help manage CRCI. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the impact of exercise programs on cognitive function in breast cancer survivors.
methodsPubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science were searched in May 2023 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Two independent reviewers conducted the screening and selection of studies based on predefined eligibility criteria, including title/abstract and full-text screening, using the Rayyan platform. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool. Meta-analyses were conducted in R using the "meta" package, comparing experimental and control groups for cognitive domains and self-reported cognitive outcomes post-intervention.
resultsEleven RCTs with 890 breast cancer survivors showed significant exercise effects on attention and working memory (SMD 0.43, 95% CI [0.20; 0.66], p < 0.001, I² = 51%), executive function (SMD -0.29, 95% CI [-0.46; -0.13], p < 0.001, I² = 0%), perceived cognitive abilities (SMD 0.95, 95% CI [0.32; 1.57], p = 0.003, I² = 69%), and cognitive complaints (SMD -0.75, 95% CI [-1.07; -0.44], p < 0.001, I² = 0%).
conclusionThis systematic review with meta-analysis demonstrates that exercise improves cognitive function in breast cancer survivors, particularly attention, working memory, executive function, and self-reported cognitive outcomes. However, the heterogeneity in cognitive assessment tools underscores the need for greater standardization, including the combined use of validated self-report questionnaires and neuropsychological tests, as well as a stronger emphasis on cognitive function as a primary outcome, to enhance comparability and strengthen the evidence base. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Exercise programs should be integrated into survivorship care to address CRCI, support cognitive health, and improve overall quality of life.
Indexed as
Identifiers
40514607What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.