A new study in the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging suggests that chemotherapy disrupts brain connectivity in breast cancer patients, with rapid changes in the form of treatment.

Researchers compared the functional MRI (FMRI) scan of 55 breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy for 38 healthy controls in several months.

He saw significant changes in the frontal-limbic system-significant-and permissible-brainstorm for executive functions such as decision making, which supports memory and coordination. These disruptions deteriorated and spread in the form of chemotherapy, which suggest a direct link for cognitive decline.

Low connectivity of the forehead-limbic system is aligned with impaired attention in patients and pre-executive conclusions of executive work.

Similarly, the cerebeller makes changes correlated with the memory complaints reported in other studies, where chemotherapy-inspired neurotoxicity changed the network involved in cognitive processing.

“Chemotherapy is rapidly manifested to destabilize the brain function, potentially explaining the ‘kemo brain’ phenomenon,” the authors said, referring to symptoms such as brain fog and memory laps.

In particular, the study connects growing evidence that chemotherapy induces broader nervous network abnormalities.

Earlier research identified low connectivity in dorsal focus network post-treatment, while others highlighted disruptions in the default mode network (DMN), which affects memory and oral flow.

Such changes may arise from neurotoxic effects of chemotherapy, including inflammation and oxidative stress, which compromise the brain structure and function.

Despite these conclusions, cognitive deficit often leads to a lack of clear biomarckers, historically identified by patients’ self-reported symptoms. This study underlines the need for clinical strategies to monitor and reduce cognitive side effects.

“Understanding these nervous changes is important to develop intervention to protect the health of the brain during the treatment of cancer,” the researchers emphasized.

As a result, there are comprehensive concerns about the long -term effects of chemotherapy, in which 70% of people survived by breast cancer experiences a cognitive decline.

While some connectivity patterns can partially fix post-treatment, the study highlights urgency in addressing brain changes related to chemotherapy to improve the quality of life.