Using telehealth to improve thinking skills through exercise and cognitive training for people with schizophrenia.
Official title: Improving Cognition Through Telehealth Aerobic Exercise and Cognitive Training After a First Schizophrenia Episode
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11062469 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to help people who have had their first episode of schizophrenia by using online exercise and brain training to boost their thinking skills and overall well-being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,080,571 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH130848-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11062469 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have recently experienced their first episode of schizophrenia and are looking to improve their cognitive skills.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with severe physical disabilities that prevent them from participating in aerobic exercise may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a telehealth approach that combines aerobic exercise and cognitive training to enhance cognitive function in individuals who have experienced their first episode of schizophrenia. Participants will engage in structured aerobic activities and cognitive exercises delivered via videoconferencing, making it accessible and convenient. The study aims to leverage the benefits of both physical and cognitive training to improve brain function and overall quality of life. By focusing on neuroplasticity and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the research seeks to provide a comprehensive intervention that addresses cognitive deficits effectively.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve cognitive abilities and daily functioning for individuals with schizophrenia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results when combining cognitive training with aerobic exercise, indicating that this approach may lead to improved outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nuechterlein, Keith H — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Nuechterlein, Keith H
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Home-based aerobic exercise plus online brain training to improve thinking after a first schizophrenia episode
This program combines guided aerobic exercise with web-based cognitive training delivered by telehealth to help thinking and daily functioning for people after a first schizophrenia episode.
-
Effects of a medication on brain function and thinking skills in veterans with schizophrenia
This study is looking at how a medication called a GLP-1 receptor agonist might help improve thinking and brain function in veterans with schizophrenia, using special imaging to see how it affects their brain activity.
-
Investigating brain stimulation effects on cognitive control in schizophrenia
This study is looking at how a gentle brain stimulation technique called tDCS can help people with schizophrenia improve their focus and thinking skills by targeting a specific area of the brain, and it involves monitoring brain activity while participants receive this treatment.
-
Understanding how CHR individuals process social cues through sight and sound
This project studies how people at clinical high risk for schizophrenia interpret social cues from movies and spoken stories, and how their brain activity relates to these abilities.
-
Understanding social cognition deficits in individuals at high risk for schizophrenia
This study is looking at how people who are at risk of developing schizophrenia understand social situations, like reading facial expressions or following conversations, by watching movie clips and listening to stories, to find ways to help them improve their social skills.
-
Understanding social interaction challenges in youth with autism and schizophrenia
This study is looking at how the brains of young people with autism and schizophrenia work when it comes to social interactions, hoping to find ways to help them improve their social skills and experiences.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.