Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2018 Jul;11(3):486-490.
doi: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2018.02.003. Epub 2018 Feb 26.

Changes in cognitive function after a 12-week exercise intervention in adults with Down syndrome

Lauren T Ptomey  1 , Amanda N Szabo  2 , Erik A Willis  3 , Anna M Gorczyca  4 , J Leon Greene  5 , Jessica C Danon  6 , Joseph E Donnelly  7
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Changes in cognitive function after a 12-week exercise intervention in adults with Down syndrome

Lauren T Ptomey et al. Disabil Health J. 2018 Jul.

Abstract

Background: Between 250,000 and 400,000 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with Down syndrome (DS). Nearly all adults with DS will develop Alzheimer's disease pathology starting in their thirties. Recent studies suggest that increased physical activity (PA) may be important for maintaining components of cognition, including memory.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in cognitive function after completion of a 12-week exercise intervention in adults with DS.

Methods: Participants were randomized to attend 30-minute group exercise sessions 1 or 2 times a week for 12 weeks. The exercise sessions were delivered via video conferencing on a tablet computer to groups of 5-8 participants. Sessions consisted of aerobic based exercises such as walking and jogging to music, dancing, as well as strength based exercises such as vertical jumps, bicep curls, and squats. Cognitive function was measured at baseline and end of study using the Cantab Dementia Battery for iPads, which assessed the cognitive domains of memory, attention, and reaction time.

Results: Twenty-seven participants (27.9 ± 7.1 years of age, 40.7% female) enrolled and completed the 12-week intervention. Participants randomized to 1 session/week averaged 26.6 ± 3.0 min/week of PA from the group exercise session. Participants randomized to 2 sessions/week averaged 57.7 ± 15.3 min/week of PA from the group exercise sessions. Participants improved their performance on the two memory variables (p = 0.048 and p = 0.069).

Conclusion: Increased exercise may have positive changes on memory and other cognitive functions.

Keywords: Cognitive function; Down syndrome; Exercise; Memory; Physical activity.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: No author has any conflicts of interest to declare

References

    1. Hartley D, Blumenthal T, Carrillo M, DiPaolo G, Esralew L, Gardiner K, et al. Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease: Common pathways, common goals. Alzheimer’s & Dementia. 2014 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ball SL, Holland AJ, Treppner P, Watson PC, Huppert FA. Executive dysfunction and its association with personality and behaviour changes in the development of Alzheimer’s disease in adults with Down syndrome and mild to moderate learning disabilities. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. 2008;47(1):1–29. - PubMed
    1. Devenny D, Krinsky-McHale S, Sersen G, Silverman W. Sequence of cognitive decline in dementia in adults with Down’s syndrome. J Intell Disabil Res. 2000;44(6):654–65. - PubMed
    1. Rowe J, Lavender A, Turk V. Cognitive executive function in Down’s syndrome. British Journal of Clinical Psychology. 2006;45(1):5–17. - PubMed
    1. Lanfranchi S, Jerman O, Dal Pont E, Alberti A, Vianello R. Executive function in adolescents with Down syndrome. J Intell Disabil Res. 2010;54(4):308–19. - PubMed

Publication types