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Cancer research

Lower Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Found in Breast Cancer Survivors

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Breast cancer survivors have been found to have a lower risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared with cancer-free controls, according to a study published online in JAMA Network Open. The study, led by Su-Min Jeong, M.D., from the Seoul National University College of Medicine in South Korea, examined the risk of AD among breast cancer survivors versus cancer-free controls in a retrospective cohort study using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. The researchers analyzed 70,701 patients who underwent breast cancer surgery between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2016, and matched them with cancer-free controls in a 1:3 ratio.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study included 70,701 breast cancer survivors and 212,103 cancer-free controls, who were matched in a 1:3 ratio.
  • The incidence rate of Alzheimer's disease among breast cancer survivors was 2.45 per 1,000 person-years, which is lower than the rate found in cancer-free controls.
  • Breast cancer survivors exhibited a slightly lower risk of Alzheimer's disease compared with cancer-free controls, especially for those aged 65 years or older.
  • The lower risk did not persist beyond five years of survival in landmark analyses.
  • The study found that breast cancer treated with radiation therapy was associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.77).

Statistics:

  • 70,701 patients who underwent breast cancer surgery between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2016, were included in the study.
  • The patients were matched with 212,103 cancer-free controls in a 1:3 ratio.
  • The incidence rate of Alzheimer's disease among breast cancer survivors was 2.45 per 1,000 person-years.
  • The lower risk did not persist beyond five years of survival in landmark analyses.
  • The incidence rate of Alzheimer's disease in cancer-free controls was not provided in the study.

Sources:

  • Jeong, S. M., et al. (2025, June 20). Risk of Alzheimer disease among breast cancer survivors. JAMA Network Open, 8(6), e2154281. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.54281
  • HealthDay News. (2025, June 30). Lower Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Found in Breast Cancer Survivors.

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