ACTIVATE™ - Cognitive Training and Physical Exercise program for children with ADHD
At a time when more than 10 percent of American children are diagnosed with ADHD and schools nationwide are underemphasizing physical education, programs like ACTIVATE™ are more important than ever.
New Haven, Connecticut (PRWEB) November 04, 2014
A new study from Michigan State University concludes that 30 minutes of exercise each morning can dramatically improve ADHD symptoms in children. The study corroborates the physical exercise portion of C8 Sciences' ACTIVATE™ program and provides invaluable clues as to the proper path forward in ADHD therapy.
C8 Sciences and independent ADHD therapy researchers have long suspected a link between physical exercise and cognitive health. The MSU study confirms that symptoms such as inattentiveness, mood swings, and poor social skills can be improved with just 30 minutes of physical activity each morning before school. The study took place over a 12-week period and examined 200 elementary-school students, some of whom showed signs of ADHD and some of whom did not.
The findings were decisive. All participants in the physical exercise program showed improvement, but the benefits were especially marked in those with symptoms of ADHD. Researchers were quick to point out that more studies would be needed for further clarification, but the early evidence points to an important link between exercise and beneficial impact.
In both anecdotal evidence from users of ACTIVATE™ and independent ADHD studies, the results have been overwhelming. Recent research from the University of Illinois demonstrated a causal relationship between physical activity and improved executive control. The development of executive function in children with ADHD often lags behind their peers, contributing to a lack of self-control, increased distractibility, and poorer cognitive flexibility.
“A cognitive training program such as ACTIVATE™ incorporates physical exercise as part of a balanced, thorough approach to ADHD therapy,” says Jeff Vohden, CEO of C8 Sciences. “ACTIVATE™’s physical activity program was designed by Dr. Jinxia Dong, whose expertise comes both from her years as a Chinese national gymnast and her research work at Peking University. The programs have been specifically designed to increase neuroplasticity and improve cognitive skills using a different set of tools from the computer-based ACTIVATE™ software. We are very proud to say that in both anecdotal evidence from users of ACTIVATE™ and independent ADHD studies, the results have been overwhelming.”
C8 Sciences representatives also point to a recent article in The Atlantic which highlighted research from the University of Illinois demonstrating a “casual relationship” between physical activity and improved executive control. This research additionally indicated that the development of executive function in children with ADHD often lags behind their peers, contributing to a lack of self-control, increased distractibility and poorer cognitive flexibility.
ACTIVATE™, and programs like it, hone in on physical activity as an important part of reducing ADHD symptoms in children. Adds Vohden, “Though computer-based training, medication and social therapies can all do wonders when it comes to improving neuroplasticity, exercise is a crucial step in the process; not only does it provide countless benefits to a child’s overall health, it can be of exceptional benefit in taming distraction.”
Indeed, ACTIVATE™’s physical activity subroutine remains the standard by which similar programs are judged, according to C8 Sciences senior spokespeople. Developed with full cooperation from physical education experts, the program concentrates on a variety of exciting and challenging skills that start simple before growing more complex. Over 100 different activities and exercises are included, all of which aim to improve social intelligence, emphasize cooperation and reduce ADHD symptoms in children.
“At a time when 10-percent of American children are diagnosed with ADHD and schools nationwide are underemphasizing physical education, programs like ACTIVATE are more important than ever,” concludes Matt Fitzpatrick, C8 Sciences’ Vice President of Product Management. “ACTIVATE™ is not intended as a substitute for proper medication, but rather as an adjunctive therapy that can enhance an ADHD student’s ability to learn, thrive and function. As more evidence comes to light, researchers at C8 Sciences vow to incorporate the latest findings into their approach to ADHD therapy.”
More information about C8 Sciences and its innovative ACTIVATE program can be found at http://www.c8sciences.com.