Improving Memory and Thinking After Breast Cancer Chemotherapy
Official title: Memantine and Exercise for Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Decline in Patients with Breast Cancer
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11190784 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is testing if a medication called memantine, either alone or combined with an exercise program, can help breast cancer patients who experience memory and thinking problems after chemotherapy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $178,613 |
| NIH project number | 5K23AG086604-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11190784 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are breast cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy and are experiencing or are at risk of chemotherapy-related cognitive decline.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer or who do not experience cognitive decline related to their treatment may not receive direct benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
Many breast cancer patients experience difficulties with memory and thinking, often called "chemo brain," which can affect their daily lives. This project aims to find effective ways to help with these challenges. We are conducting a study where patients will receive either memantine, a combination of memantine and an established exercise program, or a placebo. The goal is to see if these approaches can lessen cognitive decline and improve overall well-being during and after chemotherapy. This work also explores how these treatments might affect biological markers related to brain health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a much-needed treatment option to reduce memory and thinking problems for breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
How similar studies have gone: Memantine and exercise have shown promise in affecting brain pathways related to cognition and inflammation, suggesting a basis for this combined approach, though this specific combination for chemotherapy-related cognitive decline is being tested.
Where this research is happening
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Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nakamura, Zev — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Nakamura, Zev
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Using memantine and exercise to help with memory problems after breast cancer treatment
This study is looking at how taking memantine along with an exercise program can help breast cancer patients who are experiencing memory and thinking problems due to chemotherapy, and it aims to find out if this combination really makes a difference.
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A 3D ultrasound scanner to see early chemotherapy response in breast cancer
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A 3D quantitative ultrasound scanner will be used to detect early changes in breast tumors during chemotherapy for people with breast cancer.
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Understanding how chemotherapy affects breast cancer spread and liver immunity
A research project looks at how standard breast cancer chemotherapy may change the immune system and cancer spread, especially to the liver, in people with aggressive breast cancer.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.