: An R Package to Calculate ActiGraph Activity Counts From Portable Accelerometers.

Portable accelerometers are used to capture physical activity in free-living individuals with the ActiGraph being one of the most widely used device brands in physical activity and health research. Recently, in February 2022, ActiGraph published their activity count algorithm and released a Python package for generating activity counts from raw acceleration data for five generations of ActiGraph devices. The nonproprietary derivation of the ActiGraph count improved the transparency and interpretation of accelerometer device-measured physical activity, but the Python release of the count algorithm does not integrate with packages developed by the physical activity research community using the R Statistical Programming Language.

The adaptation of the GameSquad exergaming intervention for young adults with Down syndrome: A pilot feasibility study.

Background: Exergames may be a feasible alternative to in-person exercise that is adaptable for adults with Down Syndrome (DS).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct a 12-week pilot trial to assess the feasibility of exergames for adults with DS.

Methods: Adults with DS were provided Ring Fit Adventure™ which uses a resistance ring and body weight to perform cardiovascular and strength exercises.

Calculation and Comparison of Step Guidelines for Preschooler Physical Activity While Indoors.

Objectives: Preschooler physical activity (PA) is vital for growth and development. The World Health Organization PA guidelines state preschoolers should achieve ≥ 180 min/day of Total PA (TPA) of which ≥ 60 min is moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). A step/day recommendation to match these guidelines may be a more practical metric for caregivers to promote PA.

Diet Quality of Midwest Adolescents and Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities and Overweight/Obesity Differs by Diagnosis but Not by Weight Category.

Background: Poor diet may contribute to high rates of overweight/obesity (OW/OB) in adolescents and young adults with intellectual disabilities (IDs).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine diet quality as assessed by Healthy Eating Index 2015 (HEI-2015) scores in adolescents and young adults with IDs and OW/OB and to compare diet quality by ID diagnosis and weight.

Design: Three-day image-assisted food records from baseline assessments in an 18-month weight-loss trial for adolescents and young adults with IDs and OW/OB were used to calculate HEI-2015 scores, which were compared between ID diagnoses and weight categories.

An Individual vs Parent Supported Physical Activity Intervention in Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities.

Introduction: Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is inadequate in adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This report describes the results of an 18-mo. clinical trial in adolescents with IDD which compared changes in accelerometer assessed daily MVPA, gross motor quotient and leg press strength between participants randomized to an exercise intervention delivered to adolescents only (AO) or to the adolescent and a parent (A + P).

Preliminary translation of 'Reducing Disability in Alzheimer's Disease' among individuals with intellectual disabilities and caregiver dyads.

Background: The Reducing Disability in Alzheimer's Disease in Kansas City (RDAD-KC) intervention has been shown to improve the health of individuals with dementia and caregiver dyads. This manuscript reports the results of implementing the RDAD among individuals with intellectual disabilities and caregiver dyads.

Methods: Nine community agencies deployed the 12-week intervention.

The association between cardiovascular health and cognition in adults with Down syndrome.

Introduction: Evidence in the general population suggests that predictors of cardiovascular health such as moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA), cardiorespiratory fitness, and systolic blood pressure are associated with cognitive function. Studies supporting these associations in adults with Down syndrome (DS) are limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between systolic blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness, and MVPA on cognition in adults with DS.

The association of increased body mass index on cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, and cognition in adults with down syndrome.

Background: Obesity is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer's disease; however, this association has not been explored in adults with Down syndrome.

Objective: To examine the association of obesity, assessed by body mass index (BMI), with factors related to Alzheimer's disease risk including cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, and cognition in adults with Down syndrome.

Methods: Adults with Down syndrome attended a laboratory visit where BMI, cardiorespiratory fitness (VO), and cognitive function (CANTAB® DS Battery) were obtained.

The prevalence of obesity and lifestyle behaviors of parents of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Background: Parents of youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) may have a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity and poorer weight management behaviors compared to the general population.

Objective: To describe the prevalence of overweight/obesity and related socioeconomic and lifestyle factors including diet quality, physical activity, and reported health habits in parents of youth with IDD.

Methods: We assessed: BMI (kg/m), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), fruit and vegetable intake (FVI), parental diet and physical activity habits, and socioeconomic characteristics.

Weight Loss and Alzheimer's Disease in Down Syndrome.

Background: Virtually all adults with Down syndrome (DS) develop Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology, but research gaps remain in understanding early signs of AD in DS.

Objective: The goal of the present study was to determine if unintentional weight loss is part of AD in DS. The specific aims were to: 1) examine relation between chronological age, weight, AD pathology, and AD-related cognitive decline were assessed in a large cohort of adults with DS, and 2) determine if baseline PET amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau PET status (-versus+) and/or decline in memory and mental status were associated with weight loss prior to AD progression.

Weight loss in adolescents with down syndrome compared to adolescents with other intellectual disabilities enrolled in an 18-month randomized weight management trial.

Background: There is limited information on the efficacy of weight management interventions in adolescents with Down Syndrome (DS).

Objective: To compare weight change and intervention compliance between adolescents with DS compared to adolescents with non-DS related intellectual disabilities (ID) who were enrolled in an 18-month weight management trial.

Methods: Participants were adolescents (13-21 years) with mild to moderate ID and overweight or obesity.

A randomized trial comparing diet and delivery strategies for weight management in adolescents with intellectual disabilities.

Background: The literature evaluating multi-component interventions for long-term weight loss in adolescents with intellectual disabilities (ID) is extremely limited.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of two delivery strategies, face-to-face (FTF) or remote delivery (RD), and two diets, enhanced Stop Light diet (eSLD) or conventional diet (CD) on weight change across 12 and 18 months. in response to an 18 months.

A Remotely Delivered Yoga Intervention for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Feasibility and Effectiveness for Improving Skills Related to Physical Activity.

This study evaluated the feasibility of remotely delivered yoga for improving four physical activity-related skills: motor skills, strength, balance, and flexibility in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Nineteen of 20 participants enrolled (age 13.2 ± 2.

The Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey: Comparisons with Obesity and Physical Activity in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at a heightened risk for obesity. Family-level measures of nutrition and physical activity may help explain factors contributing to disproportionate rates of weight gain. Twenty adolescents with ASD participated in baseline testing for a study to assess the feasibility of remotely-delivered yoga.

A comparison of accelerometer cut-points for measuring physical activity and sedentary time in adolescents with Down syndrome.

Background: No cut-points have been developed for youth with Down syndrome; there is concern that altered gait patterns, decreased energy expenditure and exercise capacity of individuals with Down syndrome may produce inaccurate physical activity data if accelerometer data are analyzed using cut-points from populations with typical development and other IDD diagnoses.

Aim: To compare physical activity and sedentary time across existing accelerometer cut-point methods in adolescents with Down syndrome.

Methods: In this cross-sectional analysis, participants diagnosed with Down syndrome (n = 37; 15.

Weight Loss Interventions for Adolescents With Intellectual Disabilities: An RCT.

Objectives: In this randomized trial, we compared the effectiveness of 2 diets (enhanced stop light diet [eSLD] versus conventional meal plan diet [CD]) and 2 delivery strategies (face-to-face [FTF] versus remote delivery [RD]) on weight loss across 6 months in adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities who were overweight or obese.

Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 arms (FTF/CD, RD/CD, or RD/eSLD) and asked to attend one-on-one sessions with a health educator every 2 weeks to aid in maintaining compliance with recommendations for a reduced-energy diet and increased physical activity. The CD followed the US dietary guidelines.

Diabetes Patient Surveillance in the Emergency Department: Proof of Concept and Opportunities.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to characterize the at-risk diabetes and prediabetes patient population visiting emergency department (ED) and urgent care (UC) centers in upstate South Carolina.

Methods: We conducted this retrospective study at the largest non-profit healthcare system in South Carolina, using electronic health record (EHR) data of patients who had an ED or UC visit between February 2, 2016-July 31, 2018. Key variables including International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes, laboratory test results, family history, medication, and demographic characteristics were used to classify the patients as healthy, having prediabetes, having diabetes, being at-risk for prediabetes, or being at-risk for diabetes.

Multidimensional risk score to stratify community-dwelling older adults by future fall risk using the Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries (STEADI) framework.

Background: The Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries (STEADI) screening algorithm aligns with current fall prevention guidelines and is easy to administer within clinical practice. However, the stratification into low, moderate and high risk categories limits the meaningful interpretation of the fall-related risk factors.

Methods: Baseline measures from a modified STEADI were used to predict self-reported falls over 4 years in 3170 respondents who participated in the 2011-2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study.

A dyadic approach for a remote physical activity intervention in adults with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers: Rationale and design for an 18-month randomized trial.

Adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD) and their caregivers represent a sizeable and underserved segment of the population with low levels of moderate physical activity (MPA). Options for increasing MPA in community dwelling adults with ADRD and their caregivers are limited. A home-based physical activity intervention delivered remotely via video conferencing to groups of adults with ADRD and their caregivers (RGV), represents a potentially effective approach for increasing MPA in this group.

Family and Friend Influences on Fruit and Vegetable Intake in Elementary Aged Children.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the eating behaviors and social cognitive factors that affect fruit and vegetable consumption. Strategies to change, pros & cons, enjoyment, family support, and peer influence were measured in children ages 8-10 years both pre- and post- Zest Quest® program (pre: n = 82; post: n = 80). Children for a comparison group were selected from comparable elementary schools and pre- and post- measures were evaluated (pre: n = 92; post: n = 87).

Telemedicine and Mobile Health Technology Are Effective in the Management of Digestive Diseases: A Systematic Review.

Background: Mobile applications and interactive websites are an increasingly used method of telemedicine, but their use lacks evidence in digestive diseases.

Aim: This study aims to explore digestive disease studies that use telemedicine to effectively manage disease activity, help monitor symptoms, improve compliance to the treatment protocol, increase patient satisfaction, and enhance the patient-to-provider communication.

Methods: EBSCO, PubMed, and Web of Science databases were searched using Medical Subject Headings and other keywords to identify studies that utilized telemedicine in patients with digestive disease.

Associations Between Parental BMI and the Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Environment in a Community Sample.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between parental BMI and the family environment and determine if differences exist in child diet and physical activity related parenting behaviors by parental BMI in a community sample of families recruited through elementary schools in a local school district. We found an association between parental BMI category and family nutrition and physical activity (FNPA) score. Families with an underweight or normal weight parent had a larger proportion (64.