The Impact of Prescribed Exercise on Physical Fitness, Cognitive Functioning, Self Efficacy and Mood States in an Adult Down Syndrome Population. The MinDSets Study

1. Dan Gordon (Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Centre for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Complexité, Innovation, Activités Motrices et Sportives (CIAMS), Université, Paris-Saclay)
2. Mathew Jewiss (Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences)
3. Adrian Scruton (Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences )
4. Micheal Ferrandino (Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences )
5. Jorge Marques-Pinto (Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences )
6. Marie Gernigon (CIAMS, Université Paris-Saclay, CEDEX, 91405 Orsay, France, CIAMS, Université d’Orléans, 45067 Orléans, France, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences )

Correspondence: dan.gordon@aru.ac.uk

BACKGROUND: The duplication of chromosome 21, as evidenced in Down Syndrome (DS), has been linked to contraindications to health, such as chronotropic and respiratory incompetence, neuromuscular conditions, and impaired cognitive functioning. Additionally, it has been linked to co-occurring mental health conditions including low self-efficacy and disturbed mood states. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of eight weeks of prescribed exercise and/or cognitive training on the physical and cognitive health of adults with DS, alongside measures of mood disturbance, life satisfaction and self-efficacy.

METHODS: Eighty-three participants (age 27.1 ± 8.0 years) across five continents participated. Physical fitness was assessed using a modified version of the six-minute walk test (6MWT), while cognitive and executive functions were assessed using the Corsi block test, the Sustained-Attention-To- Response Task (SART), and the Stroop task (STROOP). Profile of Mood States (POMS) were assessed using a five-point scale across 65 categories pre- and post-study as well as upon completion of each week of the intervention. In addition, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and self-efficacy using the Generalised Self-Efficacy scale (GSE) were recorded before and after the intervention. Participants were assigned to eight weeks of either exercise (EXE), 3 × 30 min of walking/jogging per week, cognitive training (COG) 6 × ~20 min per week, a combined group (COM), and a control group (CON) engaging in no intervention.

RESULTS: 6MWT distance increased by 11.4% for EXE and 9.9% for COM (p < 0.05). For SART, there were positive significant interactions between the number of correct and incorrect responses from pre- to post-intervention when participants were asked to refrain from a response (NO-GO-trials) across all experimental groups (p < 0.05). There were positive significant interactions in the number of correct, incorrect, and timeout incompatible responses for STROOP in EXE, COG, and COM (p < 0.05). GSE increased for all participants by 1.9 ± 5.2 (p = 0.002) pre- 23 to post-intervention, while POMS showed significant changes for the whole group from pre- to post-24 intervention for tension (p < 0.001), depression (p < 0.001) and for anger (p < 0.001). In addition, 25 significant correlations were observed between SWLS and ΔTMD, Δtension, Δanger, and Δfatigue 26 (p < 0.05) for EXE.

CONCLUSIONS: Walking generated a cognitive load attributed to heightened levels of vigilance and decision-making, suggesting that exercise should be adopted within the DS community to promote physical and cognitive well-being. While both cognitive and exercise-based training provide a framework for empowering enchantments in life satisfaction, self-efficacy and mood states fostering improvements in quality of life.