The relationship between physical activity, clinical and cognitive characteristics and BDNF mRNA levels in patients with severe mental disorders

TY - JOUR

T1 - The relationship between physical activity, clinical and cognitive characteristics and BDNF mRNA levels in patients with severe mental disorders

AU - Aas, Monica

AU - Djurovic, Srdjan

AU - Ueland, Torill

AU - Mørch, Ragni H.

AU - Fjæra Laskemoen, Jannicke

AU - Reponen, Elina J.

AU - Cattaneo, Annamaria

AU - Eiel Steen, Nils

AU - Agartz, Ingrid

AU - Melle, Ingrid

AU - Andreassen, Ole A.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was funded by grants from the University of Oslo, South-Eastern Norway Health Authority (#2013088, #2017060), the Research Council of Norway (#223273, #248778, #248980), and the KG Jebsen Foundation. This study was also funded by the NARSAD Young Investigator Award (#22388), and the Scandinavian College of Neuropsychopharmacology (SCNP) Young Scientist grant to Monica Aas. We thank the patients who took part in the study as well as NORMENT, which contributed to the data collection. Specific thanks to T B for excellent help in organising the database. Publisher Copyright: © 2019, © 2019 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

PY - 2019/8/9

Y1 - 2019/8/9

N2 - Background: Here we aimed to clarify the association of physical activity with cognitive function and current mood in severe mental disorders in the most extensive sample to date. Secondly, we aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity and BDNF mRNA levels. Methods: Three hundred and six patients with a DSM-IV schizophrenia (SZ) or bipolar disorder (BD) spectrum diagnosis were included. Clinical characteristics were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Depressive symptomatology was measured using the Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (IDS-C) and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS). All patients underwent neuropsychological assessment. Physical activity was measured as hours spent on any regular physical activity (≥ or ˂90 min) per week. BDNF mRNA was measured in plasma using standardised procedures. Results: Patients with ≥90 min of physical activity per week had fewer depressive symptoms (P ˂0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.48) and performed significantly better on working memory (P ˂ 0.001, d = 0.44) and executive functioning tasks (P ˂ 0.001, d = 0.50) compared to the ˂90-min group. BDNF mRNA was positively associated with physical activity (P = 0.046) and cognitive functioning (P = 0.037). Conclusions: Our study suggests a positive association between self-reported physical activity, cognitive function, mood and BDNF mRNA levels in severe mental disorders.

AB - Background: Here we aimed to clarify the association of physical activity with cognitive function and current mood in severe mental disorders in the most extensive sample to date. Secondly, we aimed to investigate the relationship between physical activity and BDNF mRNA levels. Methods: Three hundred and six patients with a DSM-IV schizophrenia (SZ) or bipolar disorder (BD) spectrum diagnosis were included. Clinical characteristics were assessed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Depressive symptomatology was measured using the Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (IDS-C) and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS). All patients underwent neuropsychological assessment. Physical activity was measured as hours spent on any regular physical activity (≥ or ˂90 min) per week. BDNF mRNA was measured in plasma using standardised procedures. Results: Patients with ≥90 min of physical activity per week had fewer depressive symptoms (P ˂0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.48) and performed significantly better on working memory (P ˂ 0.001, d = 0.44) and executive functioning tasks (P ˂ 0.001, d = 0.50) compared to the ˂90-min group. BDNF mRNA was positively associated with physical activity (P = 0.046) and cognitive functioning (P = 0.037). Conclusions: Our study suggests a positive association between self-reported physical activity, cognitive function, mood and BDNF mRNA levels in severe mental disorders.

KW - bipolar disorder

KW - childhood trauma

KW - cognitive function

KW - physical activity

KW - Schizophrenia

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85060147526&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/15622975.2018.1557345

DO - 10.1080/15622975.2018.1557345

M3 - Article

C2 - 30560709

AN - SCOPUS:85060147526

SN - 1562-2975

VL - 20

SP - 567

EP - 576

JO - World Journal of Biological Psychiatry

JF - World Journal of Biological Psychiatry

IS - 7

ER -