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Brain Health in Breast Cancer Survivors

Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center · with National Cancer Institute (NCI) · NCT04297020

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 35–65 · Women only
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Observational
Target enrollment
120
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
March 11, 2020
Record last updated
July 7, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

Endocrine therapy (ET) is widely used to treat hormone receptor positive breast cancer and prevent recurrence by downregulating estrogen function. However, ETs readily cross the blood brain barrier and interfere with the action of estrogen in the brain. Estrogen supports cognition and menopausal status is closely linked to cognitive health in women. This has raised concern that anti-estrogen ETs may affect cognition and brain health in breast cancer survivors. However, evidence across existing studies is inconsistent and these effects remain poorly understood. The incomplete understanding of the effects of ET are likely due to limitations of earlier studies - namely, the under-appreciation of the role of menopausal status and insensitivity of standard cognitive measures. This research project will address these earlier limitations by specifically comparing ET effects by menopausal status, and using highly sensitive, task-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measures to assess the effects of ET on brain function.

Conditions: Cognitive Impairment; Cognitive Function

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age 35-65
  • Fluent in English
  • Adequate vision/hearing to complete testing

Exclusion Criteria

  • History of major or mild neurocognitive disorder or dementia
  • Diagnosis of major neurological condition (e.g., epilepsy, Parkinson's Disease, stroke)
  • Diagnosis of a major psychiatric disorder (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizophrenia)
  • Untreated/unstable unipolar depression or anxiety
  • Prior history of cancer or chemotherapy (for controls, any history)
  • History of a learning disorder
  • History of head injury with loss of consciousness >20 minutes
  • History of salpingo-oophorectomy or hysterectomy
  • A cardiac pacemaker
  • Implanted electronic device
  • Claustrophobia
  • Currently pregnant
  • Orbital metal implant or other metallic foreign bodies

Additional exclusion criteria for controls: current use of a contraceptive agent that interferes with endogenous hormonal fluctuation (e.g., oral contraceptive pill) or precludes determination of menstrual pattern (e.g., hormonally secreting intrauterine device), or current treatment with systemic estrogen replacement therapy.

Recruiting US locations

  • University of California at Los Angeles

    Los Angeles, CA 90095

    Site contact: Kathleen Van Dyk · 310-825-2719 · kvandyk@mednet.ucla.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Kathleen Van Dyk, PhD · 310 825-2719 · KVanDyk@mednet.ucla.edu
All neurology studies in California →
Brain Health in Breast Cancer Survivors (NCT04297020) | Bored Studies