Adult ADHD
Visual Abstract
Exploring the Relationship between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Executive Functioning in Adults with ADHD
Fitness and Executive Function in ADHD
Michelle Ogrodnik , Sameena Karsan , Victoria Cirone , Jennifer J Heisz
Summarized by:
September 13, 2023
study source
Brain Sci
Apr 2023
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What they studied
Does fitness level have an impact on executive functioning in adults with and without ADHD?
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What they found
Higher fitness levels were associated with better cognitive performance on the Stroop task, especially in adults with ADHD.
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What this means
Improving fitness might enhance certain aspects of executive functioning, notably inhibitory control, in adults with ADHD.
Exploring the Relationship between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Executive Functioning in Adults with ADHD
Objectives
Studies have linked physical fitness with a variety of different measures of mental health:
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Exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem and cognitive function.2 Exercise has also been found to alleviate symptoms such as low self-esteem and social withdrawal.
Short exercise programs have also been linked to improvements in ADHD in previous studies:
This study aimed to specifically examine the link between exercise and executive function in those with ADHD.
Executive function refers to the higher-level thought processes in your brain, covering functions such as planning and inhibition:
What is executive function?
Those with ADHD tend to struggle with executive function.
Study Quote
Associations between measures of executive functioning (EF) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were examined for adults with and without ADHD.
Methods
The researchers conducted an observational study comparing 36 participants with ADHD and 36 similar participants without ADHD.
They measured the fitness level of each participant with a walk test. Then they asked the participants to perform cognitive tasks measuring inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and working memory
Study Quote
Measures of executive functioning including the Stroop task, Wisconsin Card Sorting task, and Operation Span Task were completed virtually (n = 36 ADHD; n = 36 Control). Participants completed the Six-Minute Walk Test to estimate CRF.
Results
The results showed that those with better physical fitness showed more self-control and inhibition on cognitive testing.
This effect was strong in those with ADHD, suggesting that fitness plays a vital role in ADHD symptoms.
However, this effect was only seen on the Stroop test and not the other tests of working memory and cognitive flexibility.
Study Quote
Mean performance measures of executive function did not differ by group. However, higher estimated CRF was associated with better Stroop task performance, and the association was strongest for individuals with ADHD.
Conclusions
Based on the results, researchers concluded that adults with ADHD who are more fit may be better at inhibiting themselves when needed.
However, it's still unclear based on these results whether fitness is linked with other cognitive measures such as better working memory.
This is an important finding as adults with ADHD tend to actually be less fit than those without ADHD. This study highlights the particular importance of physical fitness for those with ADHD:
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While not seen in our data, adults with ADHD tend to be less physically active than their neurotypical peers, and therefore, may especially benefit from an exercise intervention that increases fitness. Given that inhibitory control is the hallmark of executive dysfunction associated with ADHD and may be especially sensitive to chronic exercise adaptations, exercise programs that increase CRF in adults with ADHD may be supportive of their inhibitory control functioning and should be explored in future research.
Study Quote
In adults with ADHD, higher estimated CRF was associated with better inhibitory control, but not with other measures of executive functioning.