Effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise combined with acupuncture on attention function of mentally-retarded adolescents:a randomised controlled trial

OBJECTIVE:To detect the impact of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise combined with acupuncture on the attention function of mentally-retarded adolescents from the three dimensions of attention concentration,attention transfer and attention span.METHODS:A total of 48 adolescents with mild to moderate mental disabilities were recruited.The participants were randomly divided into four groups:control group(C),Traditional Chinese Medicine acupuncture group(M),moderate-intensity aerobic exercise group(E)and exercise and acupuncture combined intervention group(J).Before and after the experimental intervention,the participant’s height,weight and attention ability were measured.RESULTS:The improved range of attention total duration of the J group after the intervention was significantly higher than that of the E and M groups(P<0.05),whereas that of the latter groups was significantly higher compared to that of the C group(P<0.05).The J group showed significantly higher(P<0.05)attention span values after the intervention compared to the E,M and C groups.The C group did not show a significant difference in attention transfer at 12 weeks compared to before intervention(P>0.05),whereas the E,M and J groups increased significantly(P<0.05)after intervention than the C group.CONCLUSIONS:Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise combined with acupuncture can more effectively improve the attention concentration and attention span of mentally-retarded adolescents than aerobic exercise or acupuncture alone.

Connectivity differences between adult male and female patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder according to resting-state functional MRI

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder（ADHD） is a pervasive psychiatric disorder that affects both children and adults. Adult male and female patients with ADHD are differentially affected, but few studies have explored the differences. The purpose of this study was to quantify differences between adult male and female patients with ADHD based on neuroimaging and connectivity analysis. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained and preprocessed in 82 patients. Group-wise differences between male and female patients were quantified using degree centrality for different brain regions. The medial-, middle-, and inferior-frontal gyrus, superior parietal lobule, precuneus, supramarginal gyrus, superior- and middle-temporal gyrus, middle occipital gyrus, and cuneus were identified as regions with significant group-wise differences. The identified regions were correlated with clinical scores reflecting depression and anxiety and significant correlations were found. Adult ADHD patients exhibit different levels of depression and anxiety depending on sex, and our study provides insight into how changes in brain circuitry might differentially impact male and female ADHD patients.

Age-related connectivity differences between attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder patients and typically developing subjects：a resting-state functional MRI study

Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder（ADHD） is a disorder characterized by behavioral symptoms including hyperactivity/impulsivity among children,adolescents,and adults.These ADHD related symptoms are influenced by the complex interaction of brain networks which were under explored.We explored age-related brain network differences between ADHD patients and typically developing（TD） subjects using resting state f MRI（rs-f MRI） for three age groups of children,adolescents,and adults.We collected rs-f MRI data from 184 individuals（27 ADHD children and 31 TD children;32 ADHD adolescents and 32 TD adolescents;and 31 ADHD adults and 31 TD adults）.The Brainnetome Atlas was used to define nodes in the network analysis.We compared three age groups of ADHD and TD subjects to identify the distinct regions that could explain age-related brain network differences based on degree centrality,a well-known measure of nodal centrality.The left middle temporal gyrus showed significant interaction effects between disease status（i.e.,ADHD or TD） and age（i.e.,child,adolescent,or adult）（P 0.001）.Additional regions were identified at a relaxed threshold（P 0.05）.Many of the identified regions（the left inferior frontal gyrus,the left middle temporal gyrus,and the left insular gyrus） were related to cognitive function.The results of our study suggest that aberrant development in cognitive brain regions might be associated with age-related brain network changes in ADHD patients.These findings contribute to better understand how brain function influences the symptoms of ADHD.