Open AccessThe Effect of Aerobic Exercise on Physical and Cognitive Outcomes in a Small Cohort of Outpatients with Schizophrenia
Author(s) -
Nicholas Massa,
Alaaeddin Alrohaibani,
Kevin Mammino,
Medina Bello,
Nicholas Taylor,
Bruce N. Cuthbert,
Molly Fargotstein,
Monica Coulter,
Jeffery H. Boatright,
Joe Nocera,
Erica Duncan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
brain plasticity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2213-6312
pISSN - 2213-6304
DOI - 10.3233/bpl-200105
Subject(s) - aerobic exercise , cognition , brain derived neurotrophic factor , schizophrenia (object oriented programming) , psychology , randomized controlled trial , medicine , physical therapy , cognitive decline , physical medicine and rehabilitation , neurotrophic factors , psychiatry , dementia , receptor , disease
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.