Sustained attention and brain-derived neurotrophic factor in in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder affected by a perceptual-motor training program

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which patients present inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Some studies suggest that sports, as glycolytic and aerobic exercises, may improve the sustained attention of ADHD patients. Analysis of attention after training showed that training resulted in increased surveillance, decreased impulsivity, increased reaction speed. The potential mechanism might be an increased functional connectivity between networks related to attention and executive control following acute physical activity. Deficiency of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays a key role in neurogenesis in childhood as well as synapse in adulthood, has been confirmed in people with ADHD. The role of training in increasing serum BDNF levels has been proven that can also play an effective role in reducing the problems of people with ADHD.The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of a perceptual-motor training program on sustained attention and BDNF in adults with ADHD.Using the Persian version of the Barkley adult ADHD rating scale-IV (BAARS-IV) and the available sampling method, ۳۶ female students aged ۱۸ to ۲۸ years with ADHD were selected from Mashhad universities and divided into three groups: training, sham-control and control. For individuals in the training group, perceptual-motor training program were designed and performed. In the sham-control group, the people performed activities other than motor activities. In the control group, individuals did not undergo any intervention program. Sustained attention performance was tested for differences between groups by Continuous Performance Test (CPT) in three stages: pre- and post-test and follow-up. In addition, to measure serum BDNF, samples were taken from individuals in these stages.Both in CPT-numbers and in CPT-symptoms task, reaction time, omission errors and commission errors significantly affected by the training program in the training group. The program significantly increased the BDNF levels. BDNF levels in the training group in the two post-test and follow-up were ۶۱ and ۴۵% higher than the control group, respectively.The results showed that perceptual-motor trainings could be used as an independent intervention or a complement intervention for drugs in the treatment of adults with ADHD.