Combating ‘chemobrain’ with music

“‘Brain fog or ‘chemobrain’ can impact memory, comprehension or speech, and it often lingers, making it difficult to carry out even some of the most basic everyday activities and greatly decreases overall quality of life,” Sengupta says. “I’ve always been interested in music therapy as a treatment modality for patients who have experienced other types of neurotrauma, like stroke, as well as those who are living with Alzheimer’s disease.”

She says that one of her former mentors at Harvard University, Gottfried Schlaug, used music therapy and imaging with his stroke patients.

“I wanted to extend this option to cancer patients, who are living with neurocognitive issues due to their treatments and who even live with metastatic disease,” adds Sengupta, who is also the Harold C. Schott Endowed Chair of Molecular Therapeutics. “I reached out to my UC colleague Rhonna Shatz, who has done work in this area, to brainstorm ways to improve quality of life for all patients who experience neurodegenerative effects from cancer or cancer treatment.”

Shatz, DO, specializes in memory disorders as part of the Neuroscience Institute. The two physician scientists determined they needed an objective measure to determine how helpful music therapy was for neurologic complications.

Rebola says the app is still being refined, but they hope to begin trials soon, specifically looking at patients who are undergoing treatment for breast cancer.

“I don’t think people quite understand how many cognitive issues are associated with treatment for cancer,” says Michelle Kirschner, MSN, director of Program Development for Survivorship and Supportive Services at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, who is also involved in this collaborative study. “Chemotherapy and radiation, while lifesaving in some cases, take their toll on patients, and in particular, patients who undergo treatment for breast cancer have an abnormally high rate of worsening cognitive issues.

“Our team is in charge of creating a cognitive assessment pathway for patients from diagnosis, throughout treatment and beyond, and we don’t have many options to help when they are struggling with cognitive problems. This is why, when Dr. Sengupta came to us as partners, we were so excited to be involved.”

Patients will be evaluated by the research team using approved neurofunction assessment tests and surveys; additionally, they will undergo MRI scans at six, 12 and 18 months to see how their brain is physically changing with intervention. 

“We are fusing our disciplines to find the right interventions for these patients, and we are excited to involve neuroradiologists, like Dr. Abdelkader Mahammedi, in this important research as well," says Sengupta, referring to the assistant professor of radiology at UC and a UC Health neuroradiologist. “Sometimes, it is difficult to assess cognitive impairment in patients by using surveys and assessments alone. The imaging will be a concrete way to see if this therapy is working.”