Memantine and Exercise to Improve Cognitive Function and Modulate Biological Pathways of Cognitive Decline During Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer

Conditions studied

Breast Cancer, Locally Advanced Breast Cancer, Cognitive Impairment, Cognitive Decline, Cognitive Change, Breast Cancer Stage I, Breast Cancer Stage II, Breast Cancer Stage III

About this study

This randomized, placebo-controlled trial aims to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of memantine and the University of Carolina (UNC)'s Get Real \& Heel cancer exercise program (MEM+EX) in addressing cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) and underlying CRCI biomarkers. Ninety stage I-III breast cancer patients during chemotherapy will be randomized into three groups: MEM+EX, memantine, or placebo. The study will evaluate recruitment, retention, adherence, acceptability, cognitive function, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), inflammatory markers, and frailty at multiple time points.

Interventions

• Drug: Memantine — memantine capsule
• Drug: Placebo medication — placebo capsule
• Other: Exercise Intervention — Exercise Intervention participants will concurrently engage in remotely delivered Get Real \& Heel, 3d/week. Intensity for aerobic and strength-training components will progress as tolerated under the direction of a trained exercise physiologist.
• Other: Exercise Control — Exercise control will have access to a library of pre-recorded Get Real \& Heel sessions.

Primary outcomes

• Rates of recruitment (Baseline)
• Rates of retention (Up to a year)
• Rates of adherence (Up to a year)
• The acceptability of memantine + Get Real and Heel (MEM+EX) (Up to 6 months)