Dementia Care Research and Psychosocial Factors.

Background: Evidence in adults without Down syndrome (DS) suggests that exercise during mid-life improves cognitive function and decreases risk of later life dementia. Studies supporting this relationship in adults with DS are limited. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in cognitive function after a 12-mo exercise intervention in adults with DS without dementia.

The association of dementia risk symptoms and functional activity in adults with Down syndrome.

Introduction: Adults with Down syndrome (DS) have an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, often showing neuropathological indicators by age 40. Physical function and activities of daily living (ADLs) are understudied areas of function that may inform dementia risk. We investigated associations among age, physical function (gait/balance, grip strength, and lower extremity strength), ADLs, and dementia risk symptoms in adults with DS.

Factors Associated With Depression in Caregivers of Adults With Down Syndrome.

Background: Family caregivers of those with developmental disabilities have higher rates of depression and anxiety compared with caregivers of those without development disability. Few studies have examined factors that contribute to caregiver depression, including the appraisal of caregiving responsibilities and the physical fitness and daily function of the care recipient. The purpose of this study was to identify intrapersonal (caregiver) and interpersonal (care recipient) factors associated with depressive symptoms in caregivers of adults with Down syndrome (DS).

: 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.

Feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a skill-based lifestyle intervention for enhancing cooking abilities and physical fitness in young adults with intellectual disabilities.

Background: Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) often experience poorer diet quality and lower physical fitness levels as they transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the initial feasibility and efficacy of Chef-ID, a 12-week intervention designed to improve cooking skills and physical function in young adults with ID.

Methods: Young adults with ID attended weekly group sessions which provided hands-on cooking skills, nutrition education, and exercise.

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 versus 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-month 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).

Methods: The 18-month trial included a 6-month active intervention, 6-month maintenance interventions, and a 6-month no-contact follow-up.

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.

Remote delivery of a weight management intervention for adults with intellectual disabilities: Results from a randomized non-inferiority trial.

Background: Remote delivery of multi-component weight management interventions results in clinically meaningful weight loss in adults without intellectual disabilities (ID), but the effectiveness of remotely delivered weight management interventions in adults with ID has not previously been evaluated.

Objective: To determine if a weight management intervention delivered remotely could achieve weight loss (kg) at 6 months that is non-inferior to in-person visits in adults with ID and overweight or obesity (BMI ≥25 kg/m).

Methods: Participants were randomized to a 24-mo.

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.

Resting energy expenditure in adolescents with Down syndrome: a comparison of commonly used predictive equations.

Background: Adolescents with Down syndrome (DS) are two to three times more likely to be obese than their typically developing peers. When preventing or treating obesity, it is useful for clinicians to understand an individual's energy intake needs. Predictive resting energy expenditure (REE) equations are often recommended for general use in energy intake recommendations; however, these predictive equations have not been validated in youth with DS.

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.

Intrapersonal, interpersonal and environmental correlates of moderate to vigorous physical activity and sedentary time in adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Background: Although correlates of physical activity (PA) have been extensively examined in both children and adolescents who are typically developing, little is known about correlates of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time in adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Therefore, we examined intrapersonal, interpersonal and environmental factors and their association with device-based MVPA and sedentary time in adolescents with IDD.

Methods: MVPA and sedentary time was assessed using a hip-worn ActiGraph model wGT3x-BT tri-axial accelerometer across a 7-day period in adolescents with IDD and one of their parents.

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.

Changes in physical activity across a 6-month weight loss intervention in adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Background: Adolescents and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have high rates of obesity and low levels of physical activity. This analysis examined changes in light, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time, and the association between changes in MVPA and weight loss in adolescents and young adults with IDD and overweight and obesity participating in a 6-month multi-component weight loss intervention.

Methods: Adolescents and young adults with IDD and overweight or obesity (body mass index ≥ 85 percentile, n = 110, age ~16 years, 52.

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.