A new review of 17 studies suggests that non-pharmacological interventions with neurostimulatory effects may offer mild benefits for cancer survivors experiencing chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment, often called "chemo brain." The treatments included transcranial direct current stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, multisensory stimulation, the Flexyx neurotherapy system, acupuncture, and electroacupuncture.
All studies reported mild improvements in some cognitive measures, such as memory, attention, and executive function. However, the evidence is limited. Many studies had small sample sizes, lacked control groups, or did not use randomization or blinding. Only a handful of trials actually reported cognitive outcomes, and the review did not provide specific effect sizes or statistical significance.
No safety concerns were reported in the review, but the authors did not detail adverse events or tolerability. The findings are preliminary and should not change current clinical practice. The review's main value is to support the need for larger, well-designed randomized controlled trials to confirm whether these techniques truly help with chemo brain.
For now, cancer survivors struggling with cognitive changes should discuss their symptoms with their healthcare team. This review does not recommend any specific treatment, but it highlights areas for future research.