A 12-month study suggests that regular exercise may help breast cancer survivors slow biological aging and maintain cognitive function, offering promising insights into long-term recovery after cancer treatment.

Regular exercise may do more than improve physical fitness. New research suggests it may also help slow biological aging and support brain health among breast cancer survivors who have undergone cancer treatment.

The study, titled “Exercise Slows Biological Aging in Breast Cancer Survivors: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Trial,” examined whether an exercise program could influence biological aging and cognitive function in women recovering from breast cancer.

Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy can affect healthy cells as well as cancer cells. Research suggests that some survivors experience an increased accumulation of senescent cells, cells that have stopped dividing but remain in the body. These cells can release inflammatory substances that may disrupt normal tissue function and contribute to age-related health problems.

Scientists believe that exercise may help counter some of these effects by supporting the body’s natural cellular maintenance and repair processes.

A 12-month study reveals promising results

The researchers studied breast cancer survivors who had been diagnosed within the previous five years and were not physically active at the start of the trial.

Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: a remotely delivered exercise program or a health and wellness program designed to provide a comparable level of contact.

The researchers collected blood samples and conducted cognitive assessments at the beginning of the study, after six months, and again after 12 months. They analyzed complete data from 124 participants.

To assess biological aging, the team used epigenetic clocks, scientific tools that estimate aspects of biological age by examining DNA methylation, chemical markers that help regulate gene activity.

The findings showed that participants in the exercise group experienced slower epigenetic aging over the 12-month period than those in the health and wellness group. This difference was observed using two measures: GrimAge2 and DNAmFitAge.

These findings suggest that regular exercise may influence biological aging at the cellular level, although epigenetic clock measurements are indicators of biological processes rather than direct measures of a person’s overall health or lifespan.

Slower biological aging linked to better cognitive outcomes

The study also identified a relationship between changes in biological aging and cognitive function.

Participants who showed faster epigenetic aging tended to experience greater declines in attention and self-reported cognitive function. This suggests that biological aging markers may be associated with changes in how survivors think, concentrate, and perceive their own cognitive abilities.

The researchers also examined DNA methylation across the genome and identified sites where methylation patterns differed. Some of these sites were associated with genes involved in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathways.

BDNF plays an important role in brain health, including the maintenance of nerve cells, learning, and memory. The findings offer a potential avenue for further research into how exercise may influence brain-related processes in cancer survivors.

However, the identified genetic pathways do not establish that exercise directly improved brain function through BDNF. Further studies are needed to clarify the biological mechanisms involved.

Why exercise may matter after cancer treatment

One possible explanation for the findings involves autophagy, the process through which cells break down and recycle damaged or unnecessary components. Exercise can influence cellular maintenance processes, although the extent to which these processes explain the observed results remains uncertain.

Exercise may also affect inflammation, metabolism, immune function, and other biological pathways. Together, these changes could help support long-term health following cancer treatment.

Cancer survivors are an important population for studying these effects because some cancer treatments can accelerate certain aspects of biological aging. Understanding how lifestyle interventions influence these changes may help researchers develop better strategies for survivorship care.

More research is needed

Although the results are encouraging, the study has limitations. The analysis included 124 participants with complete data, and the findings focused on biological aging markers and cognitive assessments over one year.

The results do not establish that exercise reverses aging, prevents cancer recurrence, or extends life expectancy. Nor do they show that the same effects will occur in every cancer survivor or in people with other types of cancer.

Further research involving larger groups and longer follow-up periods will be needed to determine whether the observed changes lead to lasting improvements in cognitive function, overall health, and survival.

A promising step toward healthier survivorship

The findings add to growing evidence that physical activity may play an important role in long-term health after cancer treatment.

For breast cancer survivors, exercise may offer benefits that extend beyond strength and endurance, potentially helping to support biological health and cognitive well-being.

While exercise should not be viewed as a replacement for medical care, these results highlight its potential value as part of a comprehensive survivorship plan. Survivors should work with their healthcare teams to determine what type and level of physical activity is appropriate for their individual circumstances.

The key message: Regular exercise may help breast cancer survivors maintain better biological health as they recover from treatment. Although more research is needed, the findings reinforce the importance of exploring safe, evidence-based physical activity programs as part of long-term cancer care.