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Working out may do more than lift your mood — for people with bipolar disorder, it could sharpen the mind too. A new study found that mood-stable bipolar patients who exercised at least twice a week scored significantly higher on cognitive tests than those who didn't, especially in working memory and verbal learning. Researchers say exercise could be a promising add-on strategy to address the cognitive deficits common in bipolar disorder.
A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that mood-stable patients with bipolar disorder (BD) who exercised regularly — at least twice a week — scored significantly higher on cognitive assessments than those who didn't. The cross-sectional study included 108 patients with BD type I or II from an outpatient clinic in Brazil, split into an exercise group (n = 48) and a no-exercise group (n = 60).
The cognitive gains were most pronounced in working memory and immediate verbal learning, while mood symptoms were similar between both groups — suggesting the cognitive benefit may be independent of mood stabilization.
Cognitive impairment is a major driver of functional disability in bipolar disorder, and current treatments don't always address it. This study positions structured physical exercise as a low-cost, accessible adjunctive strategy that clinicians could recommend to help patients maintain cognitive function — though larger, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm causality.
