Can exercise help with ADHD?

    Researchedby:
    Nick Milazzo, Brady Holmer
    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Exercise is one of the most-recommended nonpharmacological treatments for ADHD in adults and children. Some of the benefits of exercise for ADHD are theoretical, and include promoting dopamine release in the brain, improving executive functions, increasing levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and regulating behavior and attention.[1] Studies have shown that exercise can increase attention in children with ADHD,[2] and improve symptoms of ADHD and executive function in ADHD patients.[3]