Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Department of Educational Administration and Policy, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2022 Aug;32(8):1297-1312. doi: 10.1111/sms.14192. Epub 2022 Jun 5.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aerobic and neurocognitive exercise with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels on executive functions (EFs) and sleep quality in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
In a parallel two-group randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, 80 children with ADHD aged 6-12 years (Mage = 8.46 ± 1.50) were assigned to either a 12-week combined aerobic-and neurocognitive-exercise experimental group (EG; three sessions per week for 60-min) or a wait-list control group (CG). Forty children with typical development aged 6-12 years (Mage = 8.49 ± 1.51) were recruited as healthy controls (HC). A Polar heart rate (HR) monitor was used to track the exercise intensity (60%-80% predicted HRmax) throughout the intervention. Three core EFs (inhibitory control [IC], working memory [WM], and cognitive flexibility [CF]) were assessed by computer-based neurocognitive tasks, and sleep quality and physical activity (PA) levels were assessed by self-report questionnaires.
The results showed that the exercise intervention was beneficial for improving three core EFs, shortening sleep latency and decreasing sleep disturbances. The intervention effects on EFs and sleep quality appeared to be sustained for at least 12 weeks in EG. In addition, children with ADHD after intervention showed non-significant differences in IC, CF and multiple sleep quality outcomes compared with HC. Furthermore, a significant PA-EFs-sleep correlation was found in children with ADHD after the intervention.
The findings suggest that a 12-week combined aerobic and neurocognitive exercise intervention appears to be an effective treatment program for EFs and sleep quality in children with ADHD.
本研究旨在探讨中等至剧烈强度的有氧运动和神经认知训练对注意缺陷多动障碍（ADHD）儿童执行功能（EF）和睡眠质量的影响。
采用平行、两分组随机对照试验（RCT）设计，将 80 名 6-12 岁（平均年龄 8.46±1.50 岁）的 ADHD 儿童分为 12 周的有氧运动和神经认知训练结合的实验组（EG；每周 3 次，每次 60 分钟）和等待名单对照组（CG）。同时招募 40 名 6-12 岁（平均年龄 8.49±1.51 岁）的典型发展儿童作为健康对照组（HC）。使用 Polar 心率（HR）监测器跟踪整个干预过程中的运动强度（60%-80%预测 HRmax）。通过计算机化神经认知任务评估三个核心 EF（抑制控制[IC]、工作记忆[WM]和认知灵活性[CF]），通过自我报告问卷评估睡眠质量和身体活动（PA）水平。
结果表明，运动干预有助于改善三个核心 EF，缩短睡眠潜伏期，减少睡眠障碍。在 EG 中，干预对 EF 和睡眠质量的影响似乎至少持续 12 周。此外，与 HC 相比，ADHD 儿童在干预后 IC、CF 和多项睡眠质量结果方面差异无统计学意义。此外，干预后 ADHD 儿童的 PA-EFs-睡眠相关性显著。
研究结果表明，12 周的有氧运动和神经认知训练结合干预可能是治疗 ADHD 儿童 EF 和睡眠质量的有效方案。
