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Brain Training Aids Overall Cognitive Ability in Adults With ADHD
Computerized cognitive training interventions may offer a small benefit for overall cognitive outcomes in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Neuropsychology.
The study included 9 randomized controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of computerized cognitive training in adults with ADHD.
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Meta-analysis identified a small positive change in overall cognitive functioning in participants who underwent computerized cognitive training compared with controls, according to the study. However, there was no significant improvement in ADHD symptom severity or specific cognitive outcomes, including executive functioning, cognitive speed, or working memory.
Researchers reported a high risk of bias in the design of the included trials, as well as imprecise results. Furthermore, most of the studies involved relatively young adults, enrolled patients taking various amounts of ADHD medication, and included anywhere from just 13 to 64 participants.
Going forward, increased heterogeneity in intervention design, including training type and length, would further strengthen the evidence base for computerized cognitive training for adults with ADHD, the study found.
In the meantime, clinicians and patients should weigh the costs of computerized cognitive training, such as resources and time, against the benefit the intervention may provide, researchers advised.
“As a very low-risk treatment option which can be combined with behavioral therapies, lifestyle changes, and pharmaceutical treatment, the evidence presented could be seen as sufficient to enroll in a computerized cognitive training program,” wrote corresponding author Pia Elbe, a PhD student at the Lulea University of Technology in Sweden, and study coauthors. “That being said, the exact nature of the computerized cognitive training which provides the most benefit is uncertain, so research should identify the factors which require training in adult ADHD patients and fine-tune the computerized cognitive training to provide optimal — perhaps even personalized — training for the given neural characteristics.”
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