Studying the Effects of a High-Intensity VR Exercise Game on Attention and Thinking Skills in Teens with ADHD

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the Move Sapiens virtual reality VR exergame combined with a short high-intensity interval training HIIT model as a potential intervention for adolescents aged 12 to 17 with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD. This study aims to determine if this VR exercise game can improve attention, executive function, and reduce symptoms like sleep problems and anxiety compared to a control group. The trial also explores possible brain function changes in a smaller group using neuroimaging. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group, which practices the Move Sapiens VR exergame incorporating HIIT cycles of intense effort and rest, or the control group, which uses an adapted version of the game without physical exercise, interacting through a joystick. Both groups will complete 20 sessions over 4 weeks, with the first four and last sessions conducted in the lab under supervision where heart rate is monitored. The remaining sessions occur at home with remote monitoring, and game scores will be tracked throughout. During the study, participants will visit the clinic for assessments before and after the intervention, including attention and executive function tests as well as questionnaires on sleep and anxiety. Heart rate will be measured during lab sessions. Researchers will analyze changes in inattention and inhibitory control as primary outcomes, with secondary measures including working memory, cognitive flexibility, reaction time, sleep quality, anxiety symptoms, impulsivity, and attention. The study will last about 4 weeks with close monitoring and data collection from all participants.

Effects of HIIT VR Exergame on Attention and Executive Function in Young People With ADHD