Apar Gupta1, Sarah R Preis2,3, Alexa S Beiser2,3,4, Greta L Splansky2, Charles S DeCarli5, Rhoda Au2,4,6,7, Jane A Driver8,9,10. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08903, USA. 2. Framingham Heart Study, Boston University School of Medicine, Framingham, MA 01702, USA. 3. Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA. 4. Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. 5. Center for Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA. 6. Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA. 7. Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA. 8. New England Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130 USA. 9. Division of Aging, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02120, USA. 10. Division of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated a strong inverse association between cancer and risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to further investigate this association by examining measures of cognitive performance and neuroimaging. METHODS: Neuropsychological (NP) test batteries consisting of quantitative measures of memory and executive function and volumetric brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans measuring brain and white-matter hyperintensity volumes were administered to 2,043 dementia-free participants (54% women) in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) Offspring cohort from 1999-2005. History of cancer was assessed at examination visits and through hospital records. Linear regression was used to examine the association between cancer history and NP/MRI variables. RESULTS: There were 252 and 1,791 participants with and without a previous history of cancer, respectively. Cancer survivors had an average time between diagnosis and NP/MRI exam of 9.8 years. History of any invasive cancer was associated with better executive function (Beta=0.16, p=0.04) but not memory function. Non-invasive cancer was not associated with any change in cognitive performance. Patients with prostate cancer had larger frontal brain volumes (Beta=4.13, p=0.03). Cancer history was not associated with any other MRI measure. CONCLUSIONS: We did not find any strong evidence linking cancer to cognitive or neuroimaging biomarkers that would explain a lower risk of subsequent AD, although a previous FHS study demonstrated a strong inverse association between cancer and risk of AD. Future work should examine the association between cancer and other biomarkers of AD as well as more sensitive metrics of AD-related brain aging markers.
BACKGROUND: Previous studies have demonstrated a strong inverse association between cancer and risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study aimed to further investigate this association by examining measures of cognitive performance and neuroimaging. METHODS: Neuropsychological (NP) test batteries consisting of quantitative measures of memory and executive function and volumetric brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans measuring brain and white-matter hyperintensity volumes were administered to 2,043 dementia-free participants (54% women) in the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) Offspring cohort from 1999-2005. History of cancer was assessed at examination visits and through hospital records. Linear regression was used to examine the association between cancer history and NP/MRI variables. RESULTS: There were 252 and 1,791 participants with and without a previous history of cancer, respectively. Cancer survivors had an average time between diagnosis and NP/MRI exam of 9.8 years. History of any invasive cancer was associated with better executive function (Beta=0.16, p=0.04) but not memory function. Non-invasive cancer was not associated with any change in cognitive performance. Patients with prostate cancer had larger frontal brain volumes (Beta=4.13, p=0.03). Cancer history was not associated with any other MRI measure. CONCLUSIONS: We did not find any strong evidence linking cancer to cognitive or neuroimaging biomarkers that would explain a lower risk of subsequent AD, although a previous FHS study demonstrated a strong inverse association between cancer and risk of AD. Future work should examine the association between cancer and other biomarkers of AD as well as more sensitive metrics of AD-related brain aging markers.
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