Exercise and Ibuprofen May Help Reduce Cognitive Impairment During Chemotherapy
A new Phase II clinical trial has found that both exercise and low-dose ibuprofen can help lessen cognitive problems in individuals undergoing chemotherapy, commonly referred to as “chemo brain.” The findings, published in the journal Cancer, suggest these interventions may protect cognitive function during cancer treatment.
Up to 80% of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy experience cancer-related cognitive impairment, which often involves mild-to-moderate changes such as difficulty paying attention, memory lapses, and struggles with multitasking.
The study evaluated a home-based exercise program called EXCAP and low-dose ibuprofen, either alone or in combination. Participants in the exercise-only group showed significantly better performance in attention tasks compared to those receiving no intervention. Exercise emerged as the more consistent and powerful tool for improving cognitive function across multiple measures.
While ibuprofen similarly demonstrated potential benefits for some cognitive functions, researchers observed a surprising effect: the ibuprofen group showed less improvement on a measure of short-term verbal memory compared to those not taking the drug. This unexpected result, termed the “ibuprofen paradox,” requires further investigation to understand its underlying mechanisms.
Despite this complexity, both the exercise-only and exercise-plus-ibuprofen groups reported improvements in how family and friends perceived their cognitive health, indicating that the benefits were noticeable in daily social interactions.
Dr. Janelsins, a researcher involved in the study, noted that while ibuprofen may have potential, the effects of exercise were far more pronounced and consistent across the study population.
These findings offer a non-pharmacological and accessible approach to mitigating cognitive decline during chemotherapy, with exercise standing out as a particularly effective strategy.
For patients and caregivers seeking ways to support cognitive well-being during cancer treatment, incorporating a structured home-based exercise program may provide meaningful benefits. As always, individuals should consult their healthcare team before starting any new exercise regimen or medication, including over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen.
Sources: Wiley, Medical Xpress, News-Medical, Neuroscience News
Published: April 2026