Aerobic fitness and body mass index in individuals with schizophrenia: Implications for neurocognition and daily functioning

Abstract

Previous reports indicate that among healthy individuals low Aerobic Fitness (AF) and high Body-Mass Index (BMI) predict poor neurocognition and daily-functioning. It is unknown whether these associations extend to disorders characterized by poor neurocognition, such as schizophrenia. Therefore, we compared AF and BMI in individuals with schizophrenia and non-clinical controls, and then within the schizophrenia group we examined the links between AF, BMI, neurocognition and daily-functioning. Thirty-two individuals with schizophrenia and 64 gender- and age-matched controls completed assessments of AF (indexed by VO2max) and BMI. The former also completed measures of neurocognition, daily-functioning and physical activity. The schizophrenia group displayed significantly lower AF and higher BMI. In the schizophrenia group, AF was significantly correlated with overall neurocognition (r=0.57), along with executive functioning, working memory, social cognition, and processing speed. A hierarchical regression analysis indicated that AF accounted for 22% of the neurocognition variance. Furthermore, AF was significantly correlated with overall daily-functioning (r=0.46). In contrast, BMI displayed significant inverse correlations with neurocognition, but no associations to daily-functioning. AF was significantly correlated physical activity. The authors discuss the potential use of AF-enhancing interventions to improve neurocognitive and daily-functioning in schizophrenia, along with putative neurobiological mechanisms underlying these links, including Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor.

Gender differences in cognitive deficits in schizophrenia with and without diabetes

“…Therefore, our results may not represent all schizophrenia with diabetes's situation. Fifth, studies showed that aerobic fitness could improve neurocognition in multiple domains in individuals with schizophrenia [62]. In our currently study, although individuals with schizophrenia have an opportunity of about physical exercise every day, however, we did not record about the details of aerobic exercise for individuals with schizophrenia.…”

Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Severe Mental Illness: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

“…Investigating cardiorespiratory fitness among people with SMI is of considerable clinical interest given its associations with reduced psychiatric symptoms and cognitive deficits in SMI populations [12] and given the increasing focus on lifestyle interventions as integrated components of standard care for various mental disorders [13][14][15][16][17][18]. In addition, two recent meta-analyses demonstrated that exercise interventions significantly improve cardiorespiratory fitness in people with schizophrenia [19] and in people with MDD [20].…”

Positive Impact of Prescribed Physical Activity on Symptoms of Schizophrenia: Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Physical activity cannot replace traditional treatments of serious psychiatric illnesses, but could play an important part of the treatment process (Kimhy 2014). We reported reductions in PANSS general psychopathology symptoms post-exercise.…”