College
College of Arts and Sciences
Mentor Information
Dr. Olukemi Akintewe
Description
Cancer and neurodegenerative diseases are two prevalent health issues with high rates of mortality in modern society; cancer involves rapid cell growth, while neurodegenerative diseases involve progressive cell death, suggesting an inverse relationship between the two where certain types of cancer show lower rates of neurodegenerative disorders. Although the exact pathways resulting in this relationship are not fully understood, research in this area continues to grow, aiding the creation of predictive models and therapeutic treatments. The purpose of this literature review is to explore and identify trends within this growing area of research, focusing on the strength of the inverse relationship as compared to the length of time after cancer recovery. A total of 144 articles on the PubMed database were examined to support the conclusions in this narrative, combining meta- analytic work, epidemiologic studies, and experimental results across studied diseases. Although the reviews report that an inverse relationship exists between the majority of neurodegenerative diseases and cancers, specific subtypes displayed varying results. However, few studies consider the longitudinal outcomes of cancer survivors and how long the inverse relationship sustains after recovery, indicating a need for further study. The limited evidence that is available indicates that the protective effects weaken in the long-term. Further research is necessary to establish the direct mechanisms which influence the development of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the development of longitudinal studies to sustain more reliable results.
Neurodegenerative Disease Risk After Cancer Recovery
Cancer and neurodegenerative diseases are two prevalent health issues with high rates of mortality in modern society; cancer involves rapid cell growth, while neurodegenerative diseases involve progressive cell death, suggesting an inverse relationship between the two where certain types of cancer show lower rates of neurodegenerative disorders. Although the exact pathways resulting in this relationship are not fully understood, research in this area continues to grow, aiding the creation of predictive models and therapeutic treatments. The purpose of this literature review is to explore and identify trends within this growing area of research, focusing on the strength of the inverse relationship as compared to the length of time after cancer recovery. A total of 144 articles on the PubMed database were examined to support the conclusions in this narrative, combining meta- analytic work, epidemiologic studies, and experimental results across studied diseases. Although the reviews report that an inverse relationship exists between the majority of neurodegenerative diseases and cancers, specific subtypes displayed varying results. However, few studies consider the longitudinal outcomes of cancer survivors and how long the inverse relationship sustains after recovery, indicating a need for further study. The limited evidence that is available indicates that the protective effects weaken in the long-term. Further research is necessary to establish the direct mechanisms which influence the development of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the development of longitudinal studies to sustain more reliable results.
