Objective:

To examine whether chronic exercise interventions can improve executive function in children with neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly ADHD and ASD.

Approach:

• Systematic Search: Conducted a systematic search of six major databases to identify randomized controlled trials on chronic exercise interventions and executive function in children with neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Study Inclusion: Included 13 randomized controlled trials involving 527 children, with 10 studies on ADHD and 3 on ASD.
• Outcome Synthesis: Synthesize executive function outcomes across three domains: inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility, using a random-effects model.
• Subgroup Analyses: Performed subgroup analyses based on exercise type, intervention duration, intensity, diagnostic subtype, and control condition.

Key Findings:

• Chronic exercise produced a moderate overall improvement in executive function.
• The largest effect was observed for inhibitory control, followed by working memory and cognitive flexibility.
• Intervention effects varied across exercise type, duration, intensity, and diagnostic subtype.
• Closed-skill exercise showed more stable benefits for inhibitory control and working memory.
• Longer interventions favored improvements in inhibitory control, while moderate-to-higher intensity exercise benefited working memory.

Interpretation:

Limitations:

• Substantial between-study heterogeneity.
• Limited number of trials in several subgroup analyses.

Conclusion:

Exercise should not be viewed as a uniform intervention for executive function, as its effects differ across cognitive subdomains and intervention characteristics.

Sources:

• Systematic review registration