Combined exercise and cognitive training shows mixed advantages in schizophrenia
A small randomized trial found advantages for selected cognitive domains, but follow-up results did not consistently favor the combined intervention.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Combining aerobic exercise with cognitive remediation produced greater improvements in selected cognitive test domains than either approach alone. The advantage depended on the domain and comparison group. At follow-up, social cognition favored the combined group over cognitive remediation alone, while processing speed favored cognitive remediation alone, making the longer-term pattern mixed.
The abstract reports statistical significance without effect sizes or confidence intervals. It also omits treatment duration and everyday functioning outcomes, so the magnitude and practical meaning of the cognitive differences remain unclear.
Different comparisons produced different advantages
Against cognitive remediation alone, the combined group improved more in attention, verbal learning, and working memory. Against exercise alone, the reported advantages involved processing speed, verbal learning, and working memory, rather than every measured domain.
Testing cognition is not testing daily recovery
Participants completed a standardized cognitive assessment at baseline, after intervention, and at follow-up. These results address performance on cognitive tests; the abstract does not show whether participants experienced corresponding improvements in daily activities.
The original publication
Two is Better Than One: Potentiating Cognitive Remediation With Aerobic Exercise to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia With a Randomized Controlled Trial.
Agostoni G, Repaci F, Bechi M et al.
Actas Esp Psiquiatr · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40791051
- Record checked
AI-assisted research and writing. This explains one selected publication; it is not a complete review of everything known. Our approach.
One more question, understood.
Keep track of the research you’ve explored.