NCT05956327

Insight Into Hippocampal Neuroplasticity in Schizophrenia by Investigating Molecular Pathways During Physical Training

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 156 (estimated)
• Sponsor: LMU Klinikum · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Aerobic endurance training has shown positive effects on symptoms, cognition, daily functioning, and the structure of the hippocampus in patients with schizophrenia. The study investigates genetic and epigenetic influences on neuroplastic changes following three months of endurance training. A control group performs flexibility, strength, and balance training. The main objective is to examine the association between a genetic risk score for schizophrenia and volume increase in the CA4/DG region of the hippocampus. Additional goals include examining changes in synapses, brain structure, function, and metabolism, as well as clinical symptoms and cognitive performance.

Conditions

• Schizophrenia
• Neuronal Plasticity
• Exercise

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Aerobic Endurance Training	Aerobic endurance training on a bicycle ergometer (week 1 to 6: three units per week á 40 minutes, week 7 to 12: three units á 45 minutes, in groups of up to three patients over 13 weeks)
PROCEDURE	Flexibility, strengthening and balance training	Flexibility, strengthening and balance training (exercises from the areas of stretching, strength, balance and relaxation, 3x40 min from week 1-2, 3x45 min from week 3-4 and 3x50 min from week 5-13, in groups of up to three patients over 13 weeks)

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-09-29
• Primary completion: 2026-09-01
• Completion: 2026-09-01
• First posted: 2023-07-21
• Last updated: 2023-11-21

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Germany