Aerobic Exercise May Give Adults With ADHD a Cognitive Boost, Study Finds
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
For adults with ADHD, staying focused and retaining new information can be a daily challenge. While medication is a common treatment, new research suggests that aerobic exercise may offer a natural way to improve cognitive function at least in the short term.
A study published in Psychiatry Research by neuroscientists at National Taiwan University found that 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, such as cycling, jogging, or swimming, temporarily enhanced cognitive performance in adults with ADHD. The research examined how physical activity affects brain activity related to focus, impulse control, and learning new motor skills.
The study involved 26 unmedicated adults with ADHD and 26 individuals without the condition. Each participant completed two separate sessions: one involving 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise and another where they remained seated while watching a documentary. Before and after each session, researchers measured their cognitive function using tasks designed to assess impulse control and motor learning.
Results showed that after exercise, participants with ADHD exhibited improved inhibitory control, meaning they were better able to resist impulsive responses. They also performed better on motor learning tasks, which involve learning and remembering new physical movements. Interestingly, their brain activity patterns showed increased levels of intracortical inhibition, a mechanism that helps regulate neural signals in the brain. This effect is similar to how ADHD medications like methylphenidate (commonly known as Ritalin) impact brain function.
In contrast, the non-ADHD group experienced different outcomes. While they showed some improvement in motor learning, their levels of intracortical inhibition actually decreased, highlighting that exercise may affect brain function differently in people with ADHD.
The findings suggest that aerobic exercise could be a useful short-term strategy for boosting cognitive performance in adults with ADHD. However, researchers caution that exercise should not be seen as a replacement for medication or other treatments. More studies are needed to determine how long the benefits last and whether regular exercise can lead to lasting cognitive improvements.
This research adds to the growing body of evidence linking physical activity to brain health and cognitive function. While more work is needed to explore its long-term impact, the study reinforces the idea that movement is a valuable tool in managing ADHD symptoms.
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