Neurogenesis, Exercise, and Cognitive Late Effects of Pediatric Radiotherapy
Brain cancer is a common type of childhood malignancy, and radiotherapy (RT) is a mainstay of treatment. RT is effective for tumor eradication, and survival rates are high. However, RT damages the brain and disrupts ongoing developmental processes, resulting in debilitating cognitive “late” effects...
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Published in | Journal of neural transplantation & plasticity Vol. 2013; no. 2013; pp. 499 - 510 |
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Main Authors | , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Cairo, Egypt
Hindawi Limiteds
01.01.2013
Hindawi Puplishing Corporation Hindawi Publishing Corporation John Wiley & Sons, Inc Hindawi Limited Wiley |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Brain cancer is a common type of childhood malignancy, and radiotherapy (RT) is a mainstay of treatment. RT is effective for tumor eradication, and survival rates are high. However, RT damages the brain and disrupts ongoing developmental processes, resulting in debilitating cognitive “late” effects that may take years to fully manifest. These late effects likely derive from a long-term decrement in cell proliferation, combined with a neural environment that is hostile to plasticity, both of which are induced by RT. Long-term suppression of cell proliferation deprives the brain of the raw materials needed for optimum cognitive performance (such as new neurons in the hippocampus and new glia in frontal cortex), while chronic inflammation and dearth of trophic substances (such as growth hormone) limit neuroplastic potential in existing circuitry. Potential treatments for cognitive late effects should address both of these conditions. Exercise represents one such potential treatment, since it has the capacity to enhance cell proliferation, as well as to promote a neural milieu permissive for plasticity. Here, we review the evidence that cognitive late effects can be traced to RT-induced suppression of cell proliferation and hostile environmental conditions, as well as emerging evidence that exercise may be effective as an independent or adjuvant therapy. |
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Bibliography: | Academic Editor: Chitra D. Mandyam |
ISSN: | 0792-8483 2090-5904 1687-5443 |
DOI: | 10.1155/2013/698528 |