Aerobic Exercise and Neurocognition in Serious Mental Illness: Efficacy and Clinical Applications via Novel Technologies-Presentation Slides

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The document discusses the efficacy and clinical applications of aerobic exercise in improving neurocognition in individuals with serious mental illness, particularly schizophrenia. Neurocognitive deficits, such as working memory, processing speed, and attention, are common among people with schizophrenia and contribute to poor daily functioning and disability. Traditional treatments, including pharmacotherapy and cognitive remediation, have shown limited effectiveness in improving neurocognition.<br /><br />Aerobic exercise, however, has been found to have positive effects on neurocognition in both animal and human studies. Animal research has shown that aerobic exercise promotes new blood vessel growth in various brain regions and increases cell proliferation and survival. Human studies have demonstrated that aerobic exercise improves attention, processing speed, executive functioning, and long-term memory.<br /><br />People with schizophrenia tend to have highly sedentary lifestyles and low aerobic fitness levels. Aerobic exercise interventions have been shown to significantly improve aerobic fitness in individuals with schizophrenia. In addition to neurocognitive benefits, aerobic exercise has also been found to improve social functioning and emotional regulation in this population.<br /><br />The document highlights the importance of intervention fidelity in aerobic exercise interventions, with monitoring of training intensity being crucial for optimal outcomes. It also mentions ongoing research, such as the Improving Cognition via Exercise (ICE) trial, which aims to further investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on neurocognition and biomarkers in schizophrenia.<br /><br />Overall, aerobic exercise is a safe, inexpensive, and effective intervention for improving neurocognition and daily functioning in individuals with serious mental illness. The document concludes with practical suggestions for the integration of aerobic exercise interventions into clinical practice and emphasizes the use of novel technologies to enhance these interventions.

Keywords

neurocognition

aerobic exercise

schizophrenia

working memory

processing speed

attention

cognitive remediation

blood vessel growth

social functioning

intervention fidelity