Brain Health and Exercise in Schizophrenia

To determine the effects of aerobic exercise on hippocampal volumes and severity of psychotic symptoms in a population of psychosis patients compared to healthy age/gender matched volunteers. Psychosis patients often suffer from a number of cognitive difficulties, including poor memory function, poor problem-solving capacity and difficulties with attention and concentration. Poor fitness and associated neurovascular deficits may arise from various sources, including poor mental health, adverse side effects of antipsychotic medications and independent cardiovascular deficits that may be due to neurodevelopmental abnormalities in patients with schizophrenia. These factors are likely contributing to markedly increased stroke risk and early mortality. These problems are not well addressed by current clinical treatments, nor is neurovascular stroke risk readily or accurately detected in clinic.In contrast, evidence from aging research strongly suggests that increased cardiovascular fitness may provide numerous cognitive benefits by promoting brain growth, particularly in the frontal lobes and the hippocampi, while reducing the risk of stroke. The current study will measure the effects of aerobic exercise on brain volumes in a population of chronic psychosis patients to determine if 1) hippocampal volumes increase in response to exercise and 2) if parallel improvements in cognitive functioning occur. Additionally, baseline and follow-up stroke risk will be assessed using a novel non-invasive approach of retinal imaging to determine the presence of underlying neurovascular pathology.