Time course of epigenetic modulation in response to concurrent exercise training in patients with schizophrenia

This study aimed to investigate the short and long-term effects of concurrent exercise training on anthropometric variables, HDCA2 activity and cortisol levels of individuals with schizophrenia (SZ). Therefore, 10 patients were submitted to the program (endurance and strength exercises in the same session, 60 min of duration, three times a week) and blood samples were collected before, 30 days and 180 days after the intervention started. Exercise training reduced the body mass index and body mass after 180 days of the intervention. A significant decrease on HDAC2 activity was found 180 days after intervention compared to before the intervention. The cortisol levels remained unchanged in any evaluated time-points. The concurrent exercise training was able to modulate HDAC2 activity in mononuclear cells and improve anthropometric variables in a time-dependent manner in patients with SZ.