Strong Couple Satisfaction May Reduce Cognitive Side Effects During Chemotherapy

Recent research suggests that having a satisfying intimate relationship can play a protective role against cognitive challenges faced by breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. The study, conducted by researchers at The Ohio State University and published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, highlights that patients who report higher relationship satisfaction experience fewer declines in both objective cognitive tests and subjective feelings of memory lapses and difficulty multitasking. While general social support provides some level of protection, the strongest association was observed with the quality of the intimate partnership.

The study involved 48 women with breast cancer, who underwent assessments of cognitive abilities, including verbal learning, word association, visual attention, and short-term memory, before, during, and after chemotherapy. Participants also reported on their mental clarity and how cognitive changes impacted their quality of life.

Findings indicated that although the cognitive changes did not meet clinical impairment criteria, they were still meaningful for patients. Importantly, the research discovered that the more satisfied women were in their relationships, the less likely they were to experience cognitive setbacks during treatment. This underscores the potential benefits of couples therapy focused on enhancing relationship quality, which could serve as an intervention to mitigate chemotherapy-related cognitive issues.

The team also observed significant decreases in blood levels of oxytocin, a hormone integral to social bonding, during chemotherapy. This decrease might point to a biological mechanism involved in cognitive side effects, as oxytocin levels tend to recover after treatment. Since oxytocin plays multiple roles beyond social bonding, further research is needed to explore its potential in managing chemo side effects.

Lead researcher Leah Pyter emphasized the importance of addressing quality of life issues among cancer survivors and suggested that strengthening intimate relationships could be a valuable strategy in supporting cognitive health during cancer treatment. The findings open new avenues for targeted interventions, including relationship counseling and hormonal research, to improve outcomes for patients.

This study contributes to a growing understanding of the behavioral and biological factors influencing treatment side effects and highlights the importance of social and emotional support in cancer care.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-couple-satisfaction-linked-cognitive-issues.html