12/16/2018 / By Michelle Simmons
Another study proves that exercise benefits the brain, even in small amounts. A study carried out by researchers at the University of Georgia revealed that adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who exercise, even in small amounts, can experience improvements in the symptoms of their condition.
ADHD is a behavioral disorder that makes it hard for a person to pay attention and control impulsive behaviors. It also causes a person to be restless and almost always active. Nearly six percent of American adults report symptoms consistent with ADHD, which result in anxiety, depression, decreased energy, low motivation, poor performance at work or school, as well as increased traffic accidents.
For the study, the researchers recruited 32 young men with elevated ADHD symptoms. The participants cycled at moderate intensity for 20 minutes for one day. On another day, they sat and rested for 20 minutes as a control. In addition, the participants completed a task that required them to focus both before and after the different conditions. At the same time, the researchers took note of the participants’ leg movement, mood, attention, and self-reported motivation to accomplish the task.
The results of the study revealed that the participants only felt motivated to do the task after the exercise. They also reported feeling less confused and fatigued and more energetic. These findings suggested that even a single round of exercise can provide psychological benefits for adults with elevated ADHD symptoms. Moreover, exercise is a much safer option than prescription drugs as they do not cause adverse side effects. (Related: Just ONE exercise session can offer substantial and IMMEDIATE benefits toward brain health.)
“Exercise is already known as a stress reducer and mood booster, so it really has the potential to help those suffering with ADHD symptoms,” explained Patrick O’Connor, professor in the UGA College of Education’s kinesiology department and senior author of the study.
While there are available prescription drugs to treat ADHD symptoms, there is an increased risk of drug abuse or drug dependence, and of course, negative side effects. In addition to exercise, there are other ways to improve ADHD symptoms. Here are some of them:
Read more news stories and studies on improving ADHD symptoms by going to Brain.news.
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adhd, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, behavior, behavioral disorder, brain health, exercise, fitness, mental health, mind body science, physical fitness, prevention, research
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