Systematic Aerobics and Intelligent Monitoring System in Executive Skill Training for School-aged Children With ADHD

Around 7.2% of children around the world are suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Systematic executive skill training for children is currently recognized as one of the main programs for psychosocial behavioral interventions in ADHD, but the theoretical basis for the 1 hour "play class" component of the 3 hours per week children's classroom is insufficient. We have developed a closed-loop moderate-intensity aerobic training system, which is combined with an intelligent monitoring system, to further standardize and improve the treatment and management of ADHD intervention. The intelligent monitoring system in this study includes physiological intelligent monitoring (heart rate data) and psychological and behavioral intelligent monitoring (based on the computerized "adaptive" executive function testing procedures and clinical questionnaire scale). 200 subjects aged 6-12 years with a diagnosis of ADHD based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) criteria are randomly assigned into two groups to receive executive skill training and systematic aerobic exercise and intelligent monitoring system, or systematic executive skill training for 13 weeks. Symptoms severity is assessed by Vanderbilt Assessment Scales at weeks 0, 6, and 13. Subjects' executive function is assessed using executive function tests before and after training, parental depression/anxiety assessment, family environment assessment, and monitoring of heart rate during exercise are also included. All the other sociodemographic data are assessed. This study will investigate the effects of systematic aerobic exercise and intelligent monitoring system in executive skill training on the promotion of cold executive functions such as responsiveness, flexibility, and inhibition and hot executive functions such as reward mechanisms in children, and their effects on children with ADHD and their families.