Chemotherapy and Cognition: Insights and Impacts

Abstract

Cancer and its treatments often come with a myriad of challenges that extend beyond the physical manifestations of the disease itself. Among these challenges is the phenomenon colloquially referred to as "chemo fog" or "chemo brain," which encompasses a range of cognitive impairments experienced by cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Concurrently, emerging research has brought attention to the intricate interplay between mitochondria, the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and the gut-brain axis in the context of cancer and cognitive function. In this review, we embark on an exploration of the complex relationship between chemo fog, mitochondrial dysfunction, BBB integrity and the gut-brain axis in the setting of cancer. By unravelling the underlying mechanisms and elucidating their interconnectedness, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the cognitive complications associated with cancer and its treatment modalities.