Association between altered physical activity and neurocognitive function among people with schizophrenia: A minimum 6-months' follow-up study

Background: The long-term benefits of physical activity on neurocognitive function among patients with schizophrenia, specifically among inpatients, remain unclear. This preliminary study, with a minimum of 6-months' follow-up, examined alterations in physical activity and neurocognitive function in both inpatients and outpatients with schizophrenia. Methods: Symptoms and neurocognitive function were assessed at 2 intervals using the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale and Cognitrax, respectively. After each testing period, participants wore an accelerometer for 1 week to measure their levels and duration of physical activity. After the 6-months' follow-up (average duration, 235.9 +/- 36.2 days), participants were divided into 2 groups based on either increased or decreased activity, as compared with baseline: increased-activity and decreased-activity groups. Results: Of the 29 initially enrolled participants, 25 (mean age, 56.8 +/- 11.8 years) completed the follow-up. Reaction times in the increased activity group in daily activity (n = 10) improved as compared with the decreased-activity group (n = 15). Moreover, cognitive flexibility and executive function improved in the increased-activity group in steps (n = 7) compared with the decreased-activity group (n = 18). Finally, there was no association between the duration of moderate or vigorous exercise and neurocognitive function. Conclusions: Together, our results suggest that increased daily activity and walking, but not high intensity activity, are associated with improved neurocognitive function in patients with schizophrenia. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.