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. 2014 Dec 30;220(3):784-91.
doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2014.08.052. Epub 2014 Sep 3.

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

David Kimhy  1 , Julia Vakhrusheva  2 , Matthew N Bartels  3 , Hilary F Armstrong  4 , Jacob S Ballon  5 , Samira Khan  6 , Rachel W Chang  6 , Marie C Hansen  6 , Lindsey Ayanruoh  6 , Edward E Smith  5 , Richard P Sloan  7
Affiliations

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

David Kimhy et al. Psychiatry Res. .

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.

Keywords: Aerobic fitness; Body mass index; Daily functioning; Neurocognition; Schizophrenia.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest:

Dr. Ballon has received investigator-initiated research funding from Novartis relating to another project. None of the other authors had any conflict of interest relating to this project.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of Aerobic Fitness Among Individuals with Schizophrenia and Healthy Controls
Figure 2
Figure 2
Association of Aerobic Fitness with Neurocognitive Functioning in Individuals with Schizophrenia
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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