Physical Activity and Cognitive Impairment in a Group of Adults with Down Syndrome from North-Eastern Romania

Overview

Journal J Clin Med

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2024 Oct 16

PMID 39407889

Authors

Nicoleta Lefter

Irina Mihaela Abdulan

Alexandra Mastaleru

Maria-Magdalena Leon

Cristina Rusu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

: Down syndrome (DS) is the most prevalent chromosomal condition, with the average life expectancy significantly rising from 25 years in 1983 to 60 years in 2020. People with DS generally can participate in most physical activities that individuals without the disability can, despite some physical limitations. However, the varying degrees of cognitive deficits can present challenges when it comes to performing physical activities. : We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional study in the Cardiovascular Rehabilitation Clinic from the Clinical Rehabilitation Hospital from Iași, Romania, between July 2022 and February 2024 that included 28 patients diagnosed with DS. We collected data regarding age and comorbidities and performed several tests (MMSE, timed-up-and-go test, and handgrip strength). : The group consisted of 11 (39%) females and 17 (61%) males with a mean age of 28.07 ± 9.51 years. The weight profile of the study group differed according to the degree of physical activity: 62.50% of those with moderate physical activity were moderately overweight, while 75% of those with minimal activity were overweight or obese. The muscle strength and MMSE score was higher in the group of patients who performed moderate physical activity. Regarding comorbidities, there was a statistically significant difference in the percentage of patients with hearing loss among those with minimal physical activity. : Our results provide an update on the very limited data available. The study indicates that people with DS are generally less physically active and face unique health challenges (hearing loss, intellectual disabilities, and osteoarticular pathologies).

References

Wee S, Pitetti K, Goulopoulou S, Collier S, Guerra M, Baynard T . Impact of obesity and Down syndrome on peak heart rate and aerobic capacity in youth and adults. Res Dev Disabil. 2014; 36C:198-206. DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.10.002. View

Strydom A, Hassiotis A . Diagnostic instruments for dementia in older people with intellectual disability in clinical practice. Aging Ment Health. 2003; 7(6):431-7. DOI: 10.1080/13607860310001594682. View

McDermott S, Royer J, Mann J, Armour B . Factors associated with ambulatory care sensitive emergency department visits for South Carolina Medicaid members with intellectual disability. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2017; 62(3):165-178. PMC: 5803329. DOI: 10.1111/jir.12429. View

Phillips A, Holland A . Assessment of objectively measured physical activity levels in individuals with intellectual disabilities with and without Down's syndrome. PLoS One. 2011; 6(12):e28618. PMC: 3244403. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0028618. View

Esposito P, MacDonald M, Hornyak J, Ulrich D . Physical activity patterns of youth with Down syndrome. Intellect Dev Disabil. 2012; 50(2):109-19. DOI: 10.1352/1934-9556-50.2.109. View

Terblanche E, Boer P . The functional fitness capacity of adults with Down syndrome in South Africa. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2012; 57(9):826-36. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2012.01594.x. View

Esbensen A, Hoffman E . Reliability of parent report measures of sleep in children with Down syndrome. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2016; 61(3):210-220. PMC: 5424471. DOI: 10.1111/jir.12315. View

Ng S, Hui-Chan C . The timed up & go test: its reliability and association with lower-limb impairments and locomotor capacities in people with chronic stroke. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2005; 86(8):1641-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.apmr.2005.01.011. View

Politoff A, STADTER R, Monson N, Hass P . Cognition-related EEG abnormalities in nondemented Down syndrome subjects. Dementia. 1996; 7(2):69-75. DOI: 10.1159/000106856. View

10.

Hardee J, Fetters L . The effect of exercise intervention on daily life activities and social participation in individuals with Down syndrome: A systematic review. Res Dev Disabil. 2017; 62:81-103. DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2017.01.011. View

11.

Schworer E, Soltani A, Altaye M, Fidler D, Esbensen A . Cognitive flexibility assessment in youth with Down syndrome: Reliability, practice effects, and validity. Res Dev Disabil. 2023; 133:104416. PMC: 9852016. DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104416. View

12.

Cowley P, Ploutz-Snyder L, Baynard T, Heffernan K, Jae S, Hsu S . The effect of progressive resistance training on leg strength, aerobic capacity and functional tasks of daily living in persons with Down syndrome. Disabil Rehabil. 2011; 33(23-24):2229-36. DOI: 10.3109/09638288.2011.563820. View

13.

Chun C, Seward K, Patterson A, Melton A, MacDonald-Wicks L . Evaluation of Available Cognitive Tools Used to Measure Mild Cognitive Decline: A Scoping Review. Nutrients. 2021; 13(11). PMC: 8623828. DOI: 10.3390/nu13113974. View

14.

Cooper S, Prasher V . Maladaptive behaviours and symptoms of dementia in adults with Down's syndrome compared with adults with intellectual disability of other aetiologies. J Intellect Disabil Res. 1998; 42 ( Pt 4):293-300. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2788.1998.00135.x. View

15.

Tsou A, Bulova P, Capone G, Chicoine B, Gelaro B, Harville T . Medical Care of Adults With Down Syndrome: A Clinical Guideline. JAMA. 2020; 324(15):1543-1556. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2020.17024. View

16.

Stores R . Sleep problems in adults with Down syndrome and their family carers. J Appl Res Intellect Disabil. 2019; 32(4):831-840. DOI: 10.1111/jar.12572. View

17.

Krinsky-McHale S, Zigman W, Lee J, Schupf N, Pang D, Listwan T . Promising outcome measures of early Alzheimer's dementia in adults with Down syndrome. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2020; 12(1):e12044. PMC: 7335903. DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12044. View

18.

Barr M, Shields N . Identifying the barriers and facilitators to participation in physical activity for children with Down syndrome. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2011; 55(11):1020-33. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.2011.01425.x. View

19.

Gimenez S, Altuna M, Blessing E, Osorio R, Fortea J . Sleep Disorders in Adults with Down Syndrome. J Clin Med. 2021; 10(14). PMC: 8306783. DOI: 10.3390/jcm10143012. View

20.

Startin C, DSouza H, Ball G, Hamburg S, Hithersay R, Hughes K . Health comorbidities and cognitive abilities across the lifespan in Down syndrome. J Neurodev Disord. 2020; 12(1):4. PMC: 6979347. DOI: 10.1186/s11689-019-9306-9. View