12-month exercise trial in breast cancer survivors: cognition outcomes
In breast cancer survivors, a remotely delivered exercise programme was not superior to a health-and-wellness programme for self-reported cognition or processing speed; secondary outcomes suggested attention and memory benefits. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
253 breast cancer survivors were randomized to a remotely delivered exercise arm or a Health & Wellness arm receiving calls on healthy aging topics at the same frequency. [1]
The Exercise arm was not superior to the Health & Wellness arm for self-reported cognition or processing speed. [1]
Secondary outcomes suggested greater attention improvements at 6 and 12 months and short-term memory benefits at 6 months in the Exercise arm. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Randomized controlled trial (abstract).
- Population / context
- Breast cancer survivors (n = 253).
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- September 30, 2026
Exercise versus wellness calls in 253 survivors
The study asked whether a 12-month exercise intervention improved cognition in breast cancer survivors. 253 survivors were randomized to an exercise arm with a remotely delivered intervention or a Health & Wellness arm receiving calls on healthy aging topics at the same frequency. The 6-month intervention was the primary end-point, followed by a 6-month maintenance phase as secondary end-point.
Supporting source [1]
Activity rose; cognition and processing speed did not differ
The Exercise arm increased moderate to vigorous physical activity more than the Health & Wellness arm at all follow-ups. However, for the primary outcome the Exercise arm was not superior for self-reported cognition or processing speed. For secondary outcomes, the Exercise arm showed greater improvements in attention at 6 months and 12 months, and short-term memory benefits at 6 months.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope of the trial report
This explainer is based on the abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports the randomized design, 253 participants, a 6-month intervention plus 6-month maintenance phase, and cognition measures at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. The conclusion states that exercise warrants further investigation as a strategy to support cognitive health in breast cancer survivors.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports the randomized design, 253 participants and follow-up at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months, but details of the intervention and analyses are not given here.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Hartman SJ, Shao LY, Zablocki RW, Natarajan L, Ahles T, Palmer BW, Sears DD, Tam RM, Mac V, Dillon L, Yan C, Parker BA. · europepmc.org · September 30, 2026