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[The Relationship between Physical Activity, Growth, Diagnosis, and Treatment in Children with
Alon Eliakim1, Sigal Ben-Zaken2, Dan Nemet1
1Child Health and Sports Center, Department of Pediatrics, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, and Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Introduction:
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder of unknown etiology, but it is likely related to an impairment in the brain's dopaminergic activity. Physical exercise has been suggested as a complementary treatment for ADHD due to its close and bidirectional relationship with the dopaminergic system. However, findings regarding the effectiveness of physical activity in improving ADHD symptoms remain inconsistent. In children with ADHD, we found that in response to physical exertion, the catecholamine response - particularly dopamine - as well as the secretion of growth hormone, is blunted compared to children without ADHD. Treatment with methylphenidate slightly mitigates the suppression of dopamine and growth hormone secretion in response to physical exertion, thereby providing at least a partial explanation for why stimulant medication in children with ADHD allows normal growth. The possible use of catecholamine and growth hormone responses to physical exertion for the diagnosis and treatment of children with ADHD requires further research.
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