TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of l-theanine–caffeine combination on sustained attention and inhibitory control among children with ADHD
T2 - a proof-of-concept neuroimaging RCT
AU - Kahathuduwa, Chanaka N.
AU - Wakefield, Sarah
AU - West, Blake D.
AU - Blume, Jessica
AU - Dassanayake, Tharaka L.
AU - Weerasinghe, Vajira S.
AU - Mastergeorge, Ann
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The Author(s).
PY - 2020/12/1
Y1 - 2020/12/1
N2 - We examined the acute effects of l-theanine, caffeine and their combination on sustained attention, inhibitory control and overall cognition in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). l-Theanine (2.5 mg/kg), caffeine (2.0 mg/kg), their combination and a placebo were administered in a randomized four-way repeated-measures crossover with washout, to five boys (8–15 years) with ADHD. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed during a Go/NoGo task and a Stop-signal task ~ 1 h post-dose. NIH Cognition Toolbox was administered ~ 2 h post-dose. Treatment vs. placebo effects were examined in multi-level mixed-effects models. l-Theanine improved total cognition composite in NIH Cognition Toolbox (p = 0.040) vs. placebo. Caffeine worsened and l-theanine had a trend of worsening inhibitory control (i.e. increased Stop-signal reaction time; p = 0.031 and p = 0.053 respectively). l-Theanine–caffeine combination improved total cognition composite (p = 0.041), d-prime in the Go/NoGo task (p = 0.033) and showed a trend of improvement of inhibitory control (p = 0.080). l-Theanine–caffeine combination was associated with decreased task-related reactivity of a brain network associated with mind wandering (i.e. default mode network). l-Theanine–caffeine combination may be a potential therapeutic option for ADHD-associated impairments in sustained attention, inhibitory control and overall cognitive performance.
AB - We examined the acute effects of l-theanine, caffeine and their combination on sustained attention, inhibitory control and overall cognition in boys with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). l-Theanine (2.5 mg/kg), caffeine (2.0 mg/kg), their combination and a placebo were administered in a randomized four-way repeated-measures crossover with washout, to five boys (8–15 years) with ADHD. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was performed during a Go/NoGo task and a Stop-signal task ~ 1 h post-dose. NIH Cognition Toolbox was administered ~ 2 h post-dose. Treatment vs. placebo effects were examined in multi-level mixed-effects models. l-Theanine improved total cognition composite in NIH Cognition Toolbox (p = 0.040) vs. placebo. Caffeine worsened and l-theanine had a trend of worsening inhibitory control (i.e. increased Stop-signal reaction time; p = 0.031 and p = 0.053 respectively). l-Theanine–caffeine combination improved total cognition composite (p = 0.041), d-prime in the Go/NoGo task (p = 0.033) and showed a trend of improvement of inhibitory control (p = 0.080). l-Theanine–caffeine combination was associated with decreased task-related reactivity of a brain network associated with mind wandering (i.e. default mode network). l-Theanine–caffeine combination may be a potential therapeutic option for ADHD-associated impairments in sustained attention, inhibitory control and overall cognitive performance.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85089076132
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85089076132#tab=citedBy
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-020-70037-7
DO - 10.1038/s41598-020-70037-7
M3 - Article
C2 - 32753637
AN - SCOPUS:85089076132
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 10
JO - Scientific reports
JF - Scientific reports
IS - 1
M1 - 13072
ER -