Healthy body, healthy mind?: the effectiveness of physical activity to treat ADHD in children

Jeffrey M Halperin; Olga G Berwid; Sarah O'Neill

doi:10.1016/j.chc.2014.05.005

Healthy body, healthy mind?: the effectiveness of physical activity to treat ADHD in children

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2014 Oct;23(4):899-936. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2014.05.005. Epub 2014 Aug 3.

Authors

Jeffrey M Halperin¹, Olga G Berwid², Sarah O'Neill³

Affiliations

¹ Psychology Department, Queens College, The City University of New York (CUNY), 65-30 Kissena Boulevard, Flushing, NY 11367, USA. Electronic address: Jeffrey.halperin@qc.cuny.edu.
² York College, The City University of New York (CUNY), 94-20 Guy R. Brewer Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11451, USA.
³ Psychology Department, The City College, The City University of New York (CUNY), 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY 10031, USA.

PMID: 25220093
DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2014.05.005

Abstract

Data from animal studies provide convincing evidence that physical exercise enhances brain development and neurobehavioral functioning in areas believed to be impaired in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). To a lesser but still compelling extent, results from studies in typically developing children and adults indicate beneficial effects of exercise on many of the neurocognitive functions that have been shown to be impaired in children with ADHD. Together, these data provide a strong rationale for why a program of structured physical exercise might serve as an effective intervention for children with ADHD.

Keywords: ADHD; Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; Children; Evidence-based; Exercise; Intervention; Physical activity; Treatment.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / therapy*
Child
Exercise Therapy / methods*
Humans
Motor Activity / physiology*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding