Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Cognitive Function in Women With Methamphetamine Dependence in a Detoxification Program in Tianjin, China: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Cognitive impairment is prevalent among individuals, especially women, with methamphetamine dependence. Although aerobic exercise has been shown to affect cognitive function in humans and animals, few related studies have focused on subjects with methamphetamine dependence. Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the detoxification-related effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive function in women with methamphetamine dependence. Methods A randomized controlled trial was used with 98 women with methamphetamine dependence undergoing a detoxification program at a mental hospital. The women were distributed using a computer-generated grouping random method into either the study or control group. The investigator conducting the baseline questionnaire, the neuropsychologist assessing the cognitive function, and the data analyst were blinded to group assignment. In addition to hospital routine care, the study group received an aerobic exercise intervention for 3 months. The control group only received hospital routine care. Attention and working memory were measured using the Trail Making Test and Digit Span Test, verbal memory was measured using Logical Memory (LM) and Memory for Persons Data (MPD), and executive function was measured using the Color-Word Stroop Test. Results Forty-nine participants were randomized into each group, and the valid data of 43 participants in the study group and 46 in the control group were analyzed. The study g...
Source: Journal of Nursing Research - Category: Nursing Tags: ORIGINAL ARTICLES Source Type: research