Prostate Cancer Treatment Doubles Men’s Chances of Developing Alzheimer’s Disease

A new study published in the December issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology has found that a common prostate cancer treatment increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, contributes important information for men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and are considering types of treatment.

Prostate cancer treatment is not straightforward

Routine checkups and other medical procedures mean that prostate cancer is often detected very early. If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer, you have a wide range of treatment options to choose from, but very little research about the long-term effects of most treatments has been done. It is a confusing and emotionally difficult time.

Hormone therapy, commonly called Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT), is most often used in combination with other treatment options, like radiation or surgery, to prevent recurrence. For men who are too sick for surgery, or those with tumors that can’t be removed surgically, it is used to slow the progression of the cancer. The treatment has been in use for more than 70 years.

Study finds ADT increases risk of developing Alzheimer’s

A team of researchers, led by senior study author Dr. Nigam Shah of Stanford University, analyzed the medical records of over 16,000 men who were treated for prostate cancer. Of these, 2,397 men received ADT for an average period of 2 years and 8 months. The team found that this group was almost twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as the men who did not receive ADT.

While the study is not conclusive, it does reveal a disturbing trend – one that isn’t going unnoticed by oncologists. Dr. Otis Brawley of the American Cancer Society told NBC News, “This study doesn’t definitively tell us that these drugs cause Alzheimer’s disease. I would say that this study justifies a better study.”

While ADT doesn’t extend the lifespan of men who have undergone prostate surgery, it does slow the time it takes for the cancer to reappear. This research will hopefully help doctors and prostate cancer patients to make more informed decisions about treatment regimens and the possible side effects.

If you are facing decisions about treating your prostate cancer, make sure you get informed opinions from as many sources as you can. This information is new, and your doctor may not know about the link between Alzheimer’s and ADT. However, prescribing ADT without informed consent about all possible risks violates your rights as a patient. If you have recently started a course of ADT without being informed about all of the potential side effects, you may become the victim of malpractice. The experienced South Carolina medical malpractice attorneys McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips LLC can evaluate your case and help get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.