Exercise Boosts Cognitive Function in Patients With Schizophrenia
About 12 weeks of aerobic exercise training can significantly improve cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia, suggests a meta-analysis published online in Schizophrenia Bulletin.
“Cognitive deficits are one aspect of schizophrenia which is particularly problematic. They hinder recovery and impact negatively upon people’s ability to function in work and social situations. Furthermore, current medications for schizophrenia do not treat the cognitive deficits of the disorder,” said researcher Joseph Firth of the University of Manchester in England.
“These findings present the first large-scale evidence supporting the use of physical exercise to treat the neurocognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia. Using exercise from the earliest stages of the illness could reduce the likelihood of long-term disability, and facilitate full, functional recovery for patients.”
Firth and colleagues reviewed 10 controlled trials examining the cognitive effects of exercise in a total 385 patients with schizophrenia. Patients who were assigned aerobic exercise interventions, such as treadmills and exercise bikes, along with medication had significantly greater improvements in global cognition compared with patients who received medication alone, the researchers found.
In particular, exercise significantly improved working memory, social cognition, and attention—all of which, researchers noted, are predictive of socio-occupational outcomes.
Data from the studies also linked greater amounts of exercise with greater improvements. Supervision by physical activity professionals, too, was important for promoting cognitive benefits, researchers reported.
“This meta-analysis provides evidence that exercise can improve cognitive functioning among people with schizophrenia, particularly from interventions using higher dosages of exercise,” the researchers concluded. “Given the challenges in improving cognition, and the wider health benefits of exercise, a greater focus on providing supervised exercise to people with schizophrenia is needed.”
—Jolynn Tumolo
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