Exercise for Depression: A Feasibility Trial Exploring Neural Mechanisms

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of an exercise augmentation to pharmacotherapy in depressed younger and older adults while exploring neural mechanisms.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was conducted in 15 inactive younger (20-39 years) and older (60-79 years) adults meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, criteria for a major depressive episode (https://ichgcp.net/clinical-trials-registry/NCT02407704). Participants were randomized to receive a 12-week regimen of venlafaxine XR or venlafaxine XR plus supervised exercise. Cardiorespiratory fitness was assessed using a submaximal Vo2 test, and neuroimaging assessments were conducted using a Siemans MAGNETOM 7-Tesla magnetic resonance scanner at the University of Pittsburgh.

Results: Attrition was 38% and 14% for the medication and exercise groups, respectively. Attendance was 91% for the exercise intervention. Exploratory analyses revealed an association between improvement in fitness and increased cortical thickness in the anterior cingulate cortex.

Conclusion: Exercise augmentation to pharmacotherapy is feasible for depressed younger and older adults and may have neural benefits in a core brain region implicated in depression.

Keywords: Exercise; MRI; brain; depression.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: JFK has received medication supplies from Indivior and Pfizer for Investigator Initiated Trials.

Published by Elsevier Inc.

Figures

Figure 1.

Summary of Recruitment and Enrollment in Study.