The Effect of Exercise Intervention on Cognitive Function and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of a course of physical exercise on cognitive function and Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This research was performed semi-experimental. Participants included 25 male students aged 7 to 10 years old referred to Ibn Sina Hospital in Mashhad, and randomly divided into two groups (control and experimental). The experimental group participated in an exercise program for 24 sessions, 75 minutes per session. The control group did not receive any intervention. All the participants performed Stroop Test and Go no go Test before and after the exercise. Also, blood samples were taken from these participants to measure serum BDNF before and after exercise. The data were analyzed using ANCOVA. The results demonstrated that cognitive function of the children in experimental group regarding Stroop and Go no go tsts showed significant difference compared with the control group, also Serum BDNF levels showed a significant increase (p<0.05). These results suggest that the organized exercise program helps to improve cognitive function and treat in children with ADHD.

Keywords

• attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• brain derived neurotrophic factor
• cognitive function
• motor intervention