Associations between daily steps and cognitive function among inpatients with schizophrenia

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry
• Physical Activity Research

Background:

• Schizophrenia significantly impacts physical activity levels, with walking being a primary form of exercise.
• Physical activity, including walking, offers potential health benefits for individuals with schizophrenia.
• Understanding the relationship between daily steps and cognitive function is crucial for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between daily step counts and cognitive function in schizophrenia inpatients.
• To determine the optimal number of daily steps associated with enhanced cognitive performance in schizophrenia.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 394 inpatients with schizophrenia from two hospitals.
• Collected daily step data using accelerometers over 7 days.
• Assessed cognitive domains including attention, processing speed, reaction time, and motor speed using standardized tests and analyzed associations via multivariable linear regressions.

Main Results:

• Participants averaged 7445 (±3442) steps per day.
• Higher daily step counts correlated with better attention, processing speed, reaction time, and motor speed.
• Individuals achieving ≥5000 steps/day showed improved processing speed, while ≥7500 steps/day was linked to better attention, reaction time, and motor speed compared to <5000 steps/day.

Conclusions:

• Daily physical activity, measured in steps, is positively associated with cognitive function in schizophrenia inpatients.
• A target of 7500 or more steps per day appears optimal for maximizing cognitive benefits in this population.