Physical Exercise Alleviates ADHD Symptoms: Regional Deficits and Development Trajectory

Abstract

The heterogeneous, chronic, and proliferating aspect of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and comorbidities covers heritability, cognitive, emotional, motor, and everyday behavioral domains that place individuals presenting the condition at some considerable disadvantage. Disruption of "typical developmental trajectories" in the manifestation of gene-environment interactive predispositions implies that ADHD children and adolescents may continue to perform at defective levels as adults with regard to academic achievement, occupational enterprises, and interpersonal relationships, despite the promise of pharmacotherapeutic treatments. Physical exercise provides a plethora of beneficial effects against stress, anxiety, depression, negative affect and behavior, poor impulse control, and compulsive behavior concomitant with improved executive functioning, working memory and positive affect, as well as improved conditions for relatives and care-givers. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor, an essential element in normal brain development that promotes health-associated behaviors and quality-of-life, though reduced in ADHD, is increased markedly by the intervention of regular physical exercise. Functional, regional, and biomarker deficits, as well as hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal disruptions, have been improved through regular and carefully applied exercise programs. In view of the complications involving ADHD with co-morbidities, such as obesity, the influence of regular physical exercise has not been found negligible. Physical exercise bestows a propensity for eventual manifestation of "redifferentiated" developmental trajectories that may equip ADHD adults with a prognosis that is more adaptive functionally, independent of the applications of other therapeutic agents and treatments.

Preventive Interventions for ADHD: A Neurodevelopmental Perspective

“…Although most studies of exercise in children have focused on typically-developing youth, the areas of cognition that were found to be improved mainly included those related to executive functioning and the activation of prefrontal cortex, and thus are highly relevant to ADHD. While some attention has been paid to the impact of acute physical activity on ADHD symptoms [63], and investigators have pointed out the theoretical potential of chronic physical exercise in ADHD [64,65], randomized controlled trials of physical exercise as a treatment for ADHD have yet to be published.…”

Intervenção Psicomotora Em Escolares Com Transtorno De Déficit De Atenção E Hiperatividade

“…Estudos apresentam a atividade física como auxiliar no tratamento do TDAH (GAPIN; LABBAN; ETNIER, 2011;VERRET et al, 2012;ARCHER;KOSTRZEWA, 2012;MAO et al, 2014;HALPERIN;BERWID;O'NEILL, 2014). Em especial, Gapin, Labban e Etnier, em 2011, evidenciam que a atividade física proporciona efeitos benéficos sobre o desempenho cognitivo, bem como na gestão de sintomas comportamentais e melhoria do desempenho cognitivo de crianças com TDAH.…”

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and the Clinical Management of Obesity

“…Both human and animal studies strongly support the impact of exercise on improved cognitive function [83]. Exercise has been found to improve executive function and increase prefrontal activation during executive function tasks in children [84•], and some initial work has documented that exercise in children with ADHD has yielded improvements in overall behavior, sustained attention, vigilance, and impulsivity [85,86].…”

“…Exercise has been found to improve executive function and increase prefrontal activation during executive function tasks in children [84•], and some initial work has documented that exercise in children with ADHD has yielded improvements in overall behavior, sustained attention, vigilance, and impulsivity [85,86]. Exercise increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a molecule involved in synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory, which may be particularly important for individuals with ADHD [83]. Additionally, Gapin et al [87] reported some preliminary, albeit indirect, evidence that exercise increases dopamine levels in children with ADHD [87].…”