Chemo Brain Fog: Blame it on the Gut Bugs?
Earlier this week, I met a lovely young woman who had recently completed chemotherapy for breast cancer.
She complained of treatment-related cognitive impairment — chemo fog — with some memory and thinking problems.
As a radiation oncologist, I often hear cancer survivors use the term “chemo brain” to describe the frustrating cognitive difficulties they experience during and after treatment.
I sometimes hear such complaints after radiation therapy or pills (endocrine therapy) that block estrogen.
While “chemo brain” is a widely recognized term, the exact causes of these cognitive problems remain elusive.
Now comes a possible explanation for chemotherapy-induced brain fog: the gut microbiome.
Let’s briefly examine chemobrain symptoms, risk factors, and new evidence pointing to the gut.
I’ll end with some tips about how you can optimize your microbiome.
Chemo Brain Symptoms
The manifestations of chemo brain can be diverse and often subtle, affecting various aspects of cognitive function.
