Aerobic exercise might boost memory and thinking skills in people with schizophrenia, a small study finds.
The research included 33 schizophrenia patients who were randomly assigned to receive one of two treatments. One group was given standard psychiatric treatment (the control group). The other took part in a 12-week aerobic exercise program using active-play video games and standard exercise equipment. The patients in the exercise group also continued to receive standard psychiatric care.
By the end of the study period, aerobic fitness improved by 18 percent in the exercise group. It fell by 0.5 percent in the control group. Mental (cognitive) function improved by 15 percent in the exercise group. Mental functioning fell by 2 percent in the control group, according to the study.
The study was published online March 24 in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin.
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