Science AMA Series: I’m Dr. David Kimhy of Columbia Psychiatry. My study showed that an aerobic exercise program improved cognitive functioning in people with schizophrenia, and with increases in fitness and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a protein involved in brain plasticity. AMA!

Hi Reddit!

I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and the Director of the Experimental Psychopathology Lab at the New York State Psychiatric Institute, and I am the lead author of a new study that showed that an aerobic exercise training program improved cognitive functioning in people with schizophrenia.

This proof of concept study showed that patients who received the exercise training improved their aerobic fitness by 18% (vs. -0.5% in patients who received treatment as usual) and cognitive function by 15.1% (vs. -2% in patients who received treatment as usual). Improvement in cognitive functioning was associated with improvement in aerobic fitness and increase in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein involved in brain plasticity. If replicated, this finding may lead to integration of aerobic exercise in standard psychiatric treatment.

My work centers on two primary areas: 1) The use of translational approaches to elucidate the mechanisms of development and recovery from psychopathology in individuals with schizophrenia and related disorders; and 2) The development and dissemination of cognitive and behavioral interventions to improve affective, social and cognitive functioning. I will be answering questions at 1:30 p.m. EST. Ask Me Anything!

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