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 - Funding Information:
The study was funded by a seed grant from the Texas Tech Neuroimaging Institute, Texas Tech University and the Faculty Research and Scholarly Assistance Program of School of Health Professionals, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. The authors wish to acknowledge the Department of Psychiatry and Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine for their contribution to recruit participants.
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 - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85089076132&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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 -