How cancer treatment affects your brain

Letrozole, a drug taken during the treatment of breast cancer may have some side effects.

Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters

According to a study, the drugs taken during the treatment of breast cancer have some side effects that impact the brain.

Published in the Journal of Neuroscience, the research established the common marmoset as an important non-human primate model for studying the effects of estrogen-reducing treatments on the nervous system.

Letrozole, an aromatase inhibitor used to prevent breast cancer recurrence, have side effects such as mood disturbances and memory issues in both humans and animals as it interferes with the production of estrogens.

Little is known about how the drug impacts the brain.

Although Researchers administered Letrozole to male and female marmosets via pudding for four weeks and observed many of the same behavioural changes, including hot flashes and increased anxiety.

It also compromised the function of neurons in the hippocampus and impaired spatial memory.

Lead image published only for representational purposes only.