# Improving Cognition via Exercise in Schizophrenia

> **NIH NIH R01** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2020 · $1,430,563

## Abstract

Project Summary
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The goal of the proposed study is to examine the impact of aerobic
exercise (AE) training on cognitive functioning in people with schizophrenia (SZ). People with SZ display a
broad range of cognitive impairments that have been identified as major determinants of poor functional
outcome and disability, thus representing an important public health concern and a target for interventions. At
present, available treatments offer only minimal to limited benefits to ameliorate these deficits. Extensive
animal and human research literatures converge in supporting the positive influence of AE training on cognitive
functioning. Preliminary data indicate that AE training is effective in improving cognitive functioning in people
with SZ. However, previous studies employed small samples, making it difficult to ascertain the potential
impact of relevant biological variables. Additional limitations include focus on a single or limited range of
cognitive domains and insufficient information on daily functioning or putative biomarkers underlying cognitive
change. Finally, previous studies tended to view AE as a uniform intervention, with limited attention given to
intervention characteristics, an issue critical to reproducibility. Thus, we lack fully powered studies to provide
information to inform decisions regarding the effectiveness of AE training to ameliorate cognitive deficits in SZ.
Altogether, these limitations hinder our ability to make informed decisions regarding the efficacy of AE to
address cognitive deficits in people with SZ. To tackle this very specific need, the proposed research focuses
on three major aims - AIM 1: confirm the efficacy of AE training to improve cognition in people with SZ; AIM 2:
examine the impact of AE on daily functioning; and AIM 3: examine brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)
as an AE-related biomarker of cognitive-change. Employing a single-blind, randomized clinical trial design, we
will randomly assign 200 individuals with SZ from 4 U.S. sites to one of two 12-week, 3x-week, 1-hour
treatment programs: 1) AE or 2) A stretching and toning (ST) control condition. All participants will undergo
assessments of aerobic fitness, cognition, daily functioning, BDNF, and other putative biomarkers of cognitive
change before the training and after 6- and 12-weeks of interventions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10009462
- **Project number:** 5R01MH110623-04
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** DAVID KIMHY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $1,430,563
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-15 → 2024-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10009462

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10009462, Improving Cognition via Exercise in Schizophrenia (5R01MH110623-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10009462. Licensed CC0.

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