Ao C, Zhan L, Mou YL, Hu S, Huang YH. Influence of aerobic exercise on the cognitive and social functions of elderly patients with schizophrenia. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(3): 113765 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i3.113765]
Corresponding Author of This Article
Yong-Hong Huang, Associate Chief Physician, Department of General Practice, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, No. 301 Nancheng Road, Nanan District, Chongqing 400060, China. huang_cqsixthhosp@163.com
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Psychiatry
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Retrospective Study
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Mar 19, 2026 (publication date) through Feb 27, 2026
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World Journal of Psychiatry
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2220-3206
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Ao C, Zhan L, Mou YL, Hu S, Huang YH. Influence of aerobic exercise on the cognitive and social functions of elderly patients with schizophrenia. World J Psychiatry 2026; 16(3): 113765 [DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i3.113765]
World J Psychiatry. Mar 19, 2026; 16(3): 113765 Published online Mar 19, 2026. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v16.i3.113765
Influence of aerobic exercise on the cognitive and social functions of elderly patients with schizophrenia
Can Ao, Lu Zhan, Yu-Lan Mou, Shu Hu, Yong-Hong Huang
Can Ao, Yu-Lan Mou, Department of Sports, Chongqing Jiaotong University, Chongqing 400074, China
Lu Zhan, Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing 400060, China
Lu Zhan, Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing 400060, China
Shu Hu, Department of Geriatrics, Chongqing Mental Health Center, Chongqing 401147, China
Yong-Hong Huang, Department of General Practice, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing 400060, China
Author contributions: Ao C and Huang YH did conceptualization; Ao C, Zhan L, and Mou YL performed data curation; Ao C, Zhan L, and Huang YH wrote original draft; Ao C, Zhan L, Huang YH, Hu S, and Mou YL did review and editing; Ao C and Zhan L contributed to investigation; Ao C and Mou YL contributed to software; Ao C performed formal analysis, methodology, and visualization; Zhan L and Huang YH contributed to supervision; Hu S and Huang YH contributed to resources and validation. All authors approved the final version to publish.
Institutional review board statement: The study was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College.
Informed consent statement: Applied for exemption from informed consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: The original anonymous dataset is available upon request from the corresponding author.
Corresponding author: Yong-Hong Huang, Associate Chief Physician, Department of General Practice, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, No. 301 Nancheng Road, Nanan District, Chongqing 400060, China. huang_cqsixthhosp@163.com
Received: September 16, 2025 Revised: October 22, 2025 Accepted: December 16, 2025 Published online: March 19, 2026 Processing time: 163 Days and 23.1 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Schizophrenia presents complex challenges in older patients due to cognitive and social decline. Existing drug treatments offer limited benefits and pose risks, while aerobic exercise shows promise as a noninvasive intervention whose impact remains underexplored.
AIM
To investigate the effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive and social function in older patients with schizophrenia.
METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted in 158 older patients with schizophrenia treated at The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College (June 2023 and December 2024). The patients were divided into an observation group (n = 86), which received 3 months of aerobic rehabilitation alongside routine treatment, and a control group (n = 72), which received routine treatment alone. Cognitive function was assessed using the Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia Consensus Cognitive Battery, social function using the Inpatient Psychiatric Rehabilitation Outcome Scale (IPROS), and psychotic symptoms using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.
RESULTS
Post-treatment, Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total scores were lower in the observation group than in the controls (P < 0.001), with significant improvements in positive, negative, and general symptoms. Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia Consensus Cognitive Battery domain scores were improved in processing speed, working memory, verbal/visual learning, and executive function (all P < 0.05). IPROS total scores were decreased (P < 0.001), indicating better social functioning. Longer exercise duration correlated with greater cognitive gains and lower social function deficits. Body mass index declined (P < 0.001), and adverse events were mild and transient (9.3%). Multivariate linear regression confirmed that aerobic exercise was independently associated with a significant reduction in IPROS scores (Adjusted β = -4.57, 95% confidence intervals: -6.08 to -3.05, P < 0.001).
CONCLUSION
Aerobic exercise effectively improves cognitive function, social function, and psychotic symptoms in older patients with schizophrenia, is safe, and serves as a valuable adjunctive intervention.
Core Tip: This study investigated the impact of aerobic exercise on the cognitive and social functions of older patients with schizophrenia. In a 12-week retrospective analysis, significant improvements were observed in cognitive domains (processing speed, memory, and executive function) and social functioning, alongside reduced psychotic symptoms. Exercise duration positively correlated with cognitive gain and social function recovery. These findings support the integration of individualized aerobic exercise in geriatric schizophrenia care as a safe and effective adjunct intervention.
