The Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Physical and Cognitive Outcomes in a Small Cohort of Outpatients with Schizophrenia.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Nicholas Massa, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System; Alaaeddin Alrohaibani, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System; Kevin Mammino, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System; Medina Bello, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System; Nicholas Taylor, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System; Bruce Cuthbert, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System; Molly Fargotstein, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System; Monica M. Coulter, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Health Care System; Jeffrey Boatright, Emory University; Joe Nocera, Emory University; Erica Duncan, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-10-01
• Publisher: IOS Press
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2020 – IOS Press and the authors.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/BPL-200105
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Brain Plast
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 2
• Start Page: 161
• End Page: 174
• Grant/Funding Information: Supported by a Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research and Development SPiRE Grant (1 I21 RX001897-01 to E.D.), a Veterans Affairs Merit grant (I01RX002825 to J.N.), and a Center of Excellence Grant to the Center for Visual and Neurocognitive Rehabilitation (CVNR) of the Atlanta Veterans Affairs Healthcare System (VARR&D C9246C).
• Keywords: aerobic exercise; Schizophrenia; brain derived neurotrophic factor; cognition
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Biology, Neuroscience

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe, chronic illness characterized by psychotic symptoms and impairments in many cognitive domains. Dysregulation of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is associated with the cognitive impairments seen in patients with SCZ. Given the growing literature supporting a positive effect of aerobic exercise on cognition in other populations, we hypothesized that a structured aerobic exercise program would improve cognitive and functional outcomes in subjects with SCZ, potentially mediated by increases in BDNF. METHODS: The study was a small randomized parallel group clinical trial of subjects with SCZ comparing 12 weeks of aerobic exercise (AE) against control (CON) stretching and balance training. At Baseline, Week 12, and Week 20 we collected serum samples for analysis of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and assessed functional, physical, and cognitive outcomes. Linear regression models were used to compare change scores between timepoints. RESULTS: We randomized 21 subjects to AE and 17 to CON; however, only 9 AE and 6 CON completed their programs. Subjects in both groups were slower at the 400 m walk in Week 12 compared to Baseline, but the AE group had significantly less slowing than the CON group (B = -28.32, p = 0.011). Between Week 12 and Week 20, the AE group had a significantly greater change score on the Composite and Visual Learning Domain of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (B = 5.11, p = 0.03; B = 13.96, p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that participation in a structured aerobic exercise paradigm may modestly blunt physical function decline and enhance cognitive function in individuals with SCZ.