In adults with ADHD, acute cardio exercise does not improve sustained attention but enhances mood and motivation¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · review r3 · q2
Currency · newest study 2017 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Cycling at 65% VO2 peak produced no significant improvements in sustained attention or psychomotor speed compared with seated rest in adults with ADHD symptoms. → Den Heijer 2017 q2 i? The exercise condition showed enhanced motivation to complete mental work, higher self-reported vigor, and lower confusion, fatigue, and depression scores than rest. → Den Heijer 2017 (2)

Evidence¶

Den Heijer 2017¶

Den Heijer, A. E., Groen, Y., Tucha, L., Fuermaier, A. B. M., Koerts, J., Lange, K. W., Thome, J., & Tucha, O. (2017). Sweat it out? The effects of physical exercise on cognition and behavior in children and adults with ADHD: a systematic literature review. J Neural Transm 124(Suppl 1):S3–S26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-016-1593-7

q2 · i? · review · r3

Fritz and O'Connor (2016) as tabulated: 36 medication-naive men screened for adult ADHD symptoms, within-subject design with cycling and seated rest conditions. "No significant improvements in sustained attention" were found; equivalence was not tested.

"Exercise condition vs. resting condition by time: No significant improvements in sustained attention (Continuous Performance Task and the Bakan Vigilance Task for sustained attention; Simple Reaction Time Task for psychomotor speed)"

Den Heijer 2017 (2)¶

Den Heijer, A. E., Groen, Y., Tucha, L., Fuermaier, A. B. M., Koerts, J., Lange, K. W., Thome, J., & Tucha, O. (2017). Sweat it out? The effects of physical exercise on cognition and behavior in children and adults with ADHD: a systematic literature review. J Neural Transm 124(Suppl 1):S3–S26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00702-016-1593-7

q2 · i? · review · r3

Same study's mood outcomes: the exercise condition showed "significantly higher self- reported vigor, lower confusion scores, lower fatigue and lower depression scores"; hyperactivity, tension, and anger were unchanged. The authors proposed the vigor increase may share a dopaminergic mechanism with stimulant medication.

"Enhanced motivation to complete mental work in the exercise group over time (as assessed with a Visual Analog Scale with motivation indicators); significantly higher self- reported vigor, lower confusion scores, lower fatigue and lower depression scores in the exercise condition"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Acute exercise alleviates negative affect, enhances positive affect, and reduces stress responses, with mood effects lasting up to 24 hours — related
• Mood-related measures (contentedness, smiling, fidgetiness) did not vary systematically across the reliable and unreliable conditions — related
• Acute cardio exercise improves executive functions, response time, and academic performance in children with ADHD — related
• Acute exercise produces an overall small positive effect on cognition, with executive functions benefiting most and effects lasting up to two hours post-exercise — a broader claim this one bears on
• Non-cardio exercise (yoga, tai chi, walking) shows predominantly positive but questionable acute and chronic effects in children with ADHD — related
• In university students, walks or sitting in natural settings after cognitive fatigue improve some attention and working memory measures, with null results for others — related