The Henneghan Lab

Exciting News from the MASCC Conference in France!

Dr. Ashley Henneghan, along with Tamsin Longley from the Royal Marsden Cancer Hospital in the UK, presented our groundbreaking research at the MASCC (Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer) Conference, hosted in Lille, France June 27-29. This marks the start of an exciting international collaboration and we could not be more excited!

They presented preliminary findings from our ongoing research studies through three poster presentations, entitled:

1. Pairing Ecological Momentary Assessments with Mobile Cognitive Tests to Study Cancer-Related Cognitive Impairment
2. Impact of Cognitive and Psychological Functioning on Quality of Life in Persons Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer
3. Cognitive Patient Reported Outcomes in Persons Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer

These abstracts will soon be published in the journal Supportive Care in Cancer, and we will share more information then.

At the Henneghan Lab: Cognitive Health Initiative for Cancer Survivors, we focus on improving cognitive outcomes for all cancer survivors. Thank you to our study participants for your invaluable contributions and thank you to MASCC2024 for having us!

Henneghan Lab Highlight - A randomized control trial of meditation compared to music listening to improve cognitive function for breast cancer survivors: Feasibility and acceptability

While there are no “cures” for cancer-related cognitive impairments, there are evidence based treatments to reduce impairments and enhance cognitive health during and following cancer treatment. In this study, we pilot tested 2 behavioral interventions (meditation and music listening) to evaluate their effects on cognitive function and quality of life of breast cancer survivors. We found significant improvements in cognitive function and additional psychological improvement (lower stress) in those that listen to music. Both interventions were easy to learn, low cost, and required just 12 min/day for 8 weeks.

These findings were published in the journal of Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, and the abstract and full text are freely available here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32949954/

We are happy to announce our Spanish translation of the Optimizing Cognitive Function During and After Cancer Treatment handout is now available!

We extend our gratitude to Oscar Franco-Rocha, BSN for his time and assistance with the translation of this material from English to Spanish. Thank you!

At the Henneghan Lab, Cognitive Health Initiative for Cancer Survivors, we seek to assess, identify, and improve cognitive outcomes for all cancer survivors.
Cognitive challenges during and post-cancer treatments are common, ranging from slower cognitive processing to difficulty with planning and memory. These symptoms are unique to each individual and can vary daily. The good news? Most will see improvement over time.

Explore our handout and other resources if you're experiencing persistent cognitive challenges post-treatment.

https://nursing.utexas.edu/researh/hl/resources

Open enrollment for the Assessing Cognitive Outcomes in Everyday Life After Breast Cancer Study is underway at the University of Texas at Austin!

Through this remote study, we hope to learn more about the impact of cognitive changes on everyday life following breast cancer treatment. What to expect: The study will take about 2 months to complete (approximately 7.5 hours total). Participants will be asked to complete baseline and follow data collection on their own computers (8 weeks apart) and short daily assessments on their smartphone every other day (28 times) between baseline and follow up data collection. Participants will receive up to $78 for participation in this study.

If you or someone you know would like to join our study, please follow this link: https://redcap.link/wzme3rwv

To learn more about our lab, visit our website: https://tinyurl.com/yvxz9wyh.

Henneghan Lab Highlight - Identifying cytokine predictors of cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors up to 10 years post chemotherapy using machine learning

There is not one cause of cancer-related cognitive impairments, rather there are multiple underlying biological and neurological mechanisms. In this study, we examined mechanisms of inflammation and how they predict various cognitive functions in a group of 66 breast cancer survivors. The women in this study were between 6 months and 10 years from their treatment completion and on average 49 years old. We measured a profile of 13 cytokines (proteins involved in the inflammatory system) and administered instruments and tests to assess cognitive function. We analyzed data using machine learning and found that there were unique cytokine predictors of each of the cognitive tests of verbal fluency, memory, and executive function. Our findings suggest that different inflammatory factors may play a role in the different types of cognitive dysfunction following breast cancer treatment. The abstract and full text of this study that was published in the Journal of Neuroimmunology can be found here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6030687/

We are happy to announce our Korean translation of the Optimizing Cognitive Function During and After Cancer Treatment handout is now available!

We extend our gratitude to Bora Sun, RN, MSB and So Hyeon Bang, RN, PhD for their time and assistance with the translation of this material from English to Korean. Thank you!

At the Henneghan Lab, Cognitive Health Initiative for Cancer Survivors, we seek to assess, identify, and improve cognitive outcomes for all cancer survivors.
Cognitive challenges during and post-cancer treatments are common, ranging from slower cognitive processing to difficulty with planning and memory. These symptoms are unique to each individual and can vary daily. The good news? Most will see improvement over time.

Explore our resources if you're experiencing persistent cognitive challenges post-treatment.
https://nursing.utexas.edu/researh/hl/resources

National Cancer Survivors Month: Join us in honoring cancer survivors, supporting those still on their journey, and remembering loved ones who have passed.

At the Henneghan Lab, we are dedicated to improving the cognitive health of cancer survivors. We understand the cognitive and psychological challenges that can arise during and after treatment, and we strive to develop effective interventions to enhance quality of life.

Together, we celebrate the resilience and strength of all cancer survivors.

Interventions to Manage Cancer-Related Cognitive Symptoms: Meditation & Stress Reduction

Various types of meditation and mindfulness reduce cognitive problems after cancer treatment by increasing awareness of your body, mind, and surroundings. Mindfulness is especially effective for improving attention in cancer survivors. Techniques like Kirtan Kriya, Tibetan Sound, and Qigong also enhance cognitive functioning, verbal abilities, and memory.

Explore mindfulness and meditation with apps like Headspace, Calm, and more!

For more of our resources, follow this link!
https://nursing.utexas.edu/researh/hl/resources

Interventions to Manage Cancer-Related Cognitive Symptoms: Boost Your Brain with Exercise! 🧠🏃‍♀️

Cardio and aerobic activities are linked to better cognitive function in both humans and animals. Research shows that exercise enhances cognitive function in healthy older adults, those with cognitive impairments, and cancer survivors. Regular exercise also improves brain health, sleep, and emotional regulation.

For more of our resources, follow this link!
https://nursing.utexas.edu/researh/hl/resources