Person walking through a brain landscape, symbolizing overcoming cognitive challenges.

Unlocking the Mystery: How Inactivity Impacts Cognitive Health During Cancer

Rhea Morgan in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore the hidden link between physical inactivity and cognitive impairments in cancer patients, and discover strategies to protect your brain health."

Cancer treatment has made remarkable strides, extending lives and offering new hope. Yet, the journey isn't without its challenges. Beyond the physical battles, many cancer survivors face a less-discussed hurdle: cognitive impairment. Often called "chemobrain," this can manifest as memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and slowed thinking.

While chemotherapy is often pinpointed as the culprit, the reality is more complex. Many factors, from fatigue and psychological stress to changes at the molecular level, contribute to these cognitive shifts. Now, emerging research shines a light on another significant piece of the puzzle: physical inactivity. Cancer patients often experience decreased activity levels during treatment, but how does this impact cognitive function?

This article will explore the connection between physical inactivity and cognitive impairments in cancer patients. We'll break down the science, explain the contributing factors, and provide insights to help you prioritize your cognitive well-being throughout your cancer journey.

The Multifaceted Impact of Inactivity on Your Brain

Person walking through a brain landscape, symbolizing overcoming cognitive challenges.

It's important to understand that cognitive impairment in cancer patients rarely stems from a single cause. Cancer itself, the treatments used to fight it, psychological factors, and even a patient's genetic makeup can all play a role. Physical inactivity appears to be a significant, yet often overlooked, contributor.

Here's how lack of physical activity can affect cognitive function during and after cancer treatment:

Reduced Blood Flow: Inactivity can lead to decreased blood flow to the brain, particularly affecting regions responsible for attention and executive functions.
Gray Matter Loss: Studies have linked physical inactivity with a reduction in gray matter volume in critical brain areas. This loss can impact memory, processing speed, and overall cognitive performance.
Impaired Neurogenesis: Physical activity promotes the creation of new brain cells in the hippocampus, a region vital for memory. Inactivity can hinder this process, potentially leading to memory deficits.
Increased Inflammation: A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to increased inflammation throughout the body, including the brain. Chronic inflammation is detrimental to cognitive health.

Research reveals parallels between the cognitive effects of cancer treatment and physical inactivity. Both can disrupt cerebral blood flow, alter brain structure, and hinder neurogenesis. Recognizing these connections is the first step toward taking proactive measures.

Reclaiming Your Cognitive Health: Taking Action

While the link between inactivity and cognitive challenges is clear, the good news is that you're not powerless. Studies show that physical activity can counteract many of the negative effects of cancer treatment on the brain.

Here are some strategies to incorporate physical activity into your routine during and after cancer treatment:

The development of CRCI is a multifactorial process. Existing data on changes of physical activity levels in cancer patients and its associated effects on CRCI remains limited. Future trials are encouraged to focus on these aspects to confirm and expand current findings. Importantly, the influence of physical inactivity on development of CRCI needs to be determined via randomized controlled trials.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4172/1948-5956.1000417, Alternate LINK

Title: Impact Of Physical Inactivity On The Multifactorial Process Of Developing Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairments

Subject: Cancer Research

Journal: Journal of Cancer Science & Therapy

Publisher: OMICS Publishing Group

Authors: Pesendorfer Lm, Zimmer P

Published: 2016-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the main focus regarding cognitive health in cancer patients?

Cognitive impairment in cancer patients is a complex issue with multiple contributing factors. Beyond chemotherapy and the disease itself, the article highlights physical inactivity as a significant, often overlooked, contributor. Inactivity can lead to reduced blood flow to the brain, gray matter loss, impaired neurogenesis, and increased inflammation, all of which negatively impact cognitive function.

What is chemobrain and what role does physical inactivity play in it?

Chemobrain, a term often used, is characterized by memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and slowed thinking. While chemotherapy is often associated with these issues, the article emphasizes that physical inactivity worsens these cognitive challenges. The research reveals parallels between the cognitive effects of cancer treatment and physical inactivity, impacting cerebral blood flow, brain structure, and neurogenesis.

How exactly does physical inactivity affect cognitive function?

Physical inactivity impacts cognitive function in several ways. Reduced blood flow to the brain, particularly affecting regions responsible for attention and executive functions, is a direct consequence. Moreover, physical inactivity can lead to gray matter loss in critical brain areas impacting memory and processing speed. The process of neurogenesis, which involves the creation of new brain cells in the hippocampus, can be hindered by inactivity. Finally, a sedentary lifestyle can increase inflammation throughout the body, including the brain, detrimental to cognitive health.

What can you do to improve your cognitive health, according to this text?

The article emphasizes that physical activity can counteract many of the negative effects of cancer treatment on the brain. While specific strategies for reclaiming cognitive health aren't explicitly detailed in the provided text, the implication is that incorporating physical activity into your routine can be beneficial.

Why is it important to understand the connection between physical inactivity and cognitive impairment in the context of cancer?

The connection between physical inactivity and cognitive impairments is significant because it highlights a modifiable factor. While cancer and its treatments are often unavoidable, addressing physical inactivity offers a proactive way to protect brain health. Recognizing this link empowers individuals to take action and potentially mitigate cognitive challenges experienced during and after cancer treatment by incorporating more physical activity.