Evaluating the role of serotonin on neuropsychological function after breast cancer using acute tryptophan depletion.

ABSTRACT: Although cognitive dysfunction is a prevalent and disruptive problem for many breast cancer survivors (BCSs), little research has examined its etiology. One potential mechanism that remains to be explored is serotonin. Serotonin has been implicated in normal and dysfunctional cognitive processes, and serotonin levels are significantly affected by estrogen withdrawal, a common side effect of breast cancer treatment. However, no study has evaluated serotonin's role on cognitive dysfunction in BCSs. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of serotonin in cognitive dysfunction in survivors by lowering central serotonin concentrations via acute tryptophan depletion (ATD). Based on previous research in noncancer populations, we hypothesized that alterations in central serotonin levels

SUBMITTER: Von Ah D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3673716 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature