ABSTRACT
Over the past several decades there has been a substantial rise in the diagnosis of ADD and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Over the past decade, ADHD diagnosis has risen approximately 25 percent. In 2010, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claimed that one in 10 American children had ADHD, representing a 22 percent increase since 2003. During physical activity, endorphins are released in the brain. Endorphins are hormone-like compounds that regulate mood, pleasure, and pain. That same burst of activity also elevates the brain's dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels. That same burst of activity also elevates the brain's dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels. These brain chemicals affect focus and attention, which are in short supply in those with ADHD.
