Executive Function Improves Following Acute Exercise in Adults with Down Syndrome.

Shannon Ringenbach,Kahyun Nam,Brandon Myer,Claire Hayes,Nathanial Arnold,Chih-Chia Chen

doi:10.3390/brainsci11050620

Shannon Ringenbach, Kahyun Nam + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11050620

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Abstract

The influence of exercise on brain function is an important topic, especially in persons with intellectual deficits. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of an acute bout of resistance training (RT) compared to assisted cycle therapy (ACT) and no training (NT) in adults with DS on cognitive function. Fourteen participants attended four sessions: a baseline assessment, an assisted cycling therapy (ACT) session, a resistance training (RT) session, and a session of no training (NT). In the RT session, the leg press, chest press, seated row, leg curl, shoulder press, and latissimus pulldown were performed. The ACT session consisted of 30 min of cycling and in NT session consisted of 20 min of board games. Inhibition was measured by the Erikson flanker task and cognitive planning was measured by the Tower of London test and both were administered prior to (pretest) and after each intervention (posttest). Our results showed that inhibition time improved more following RT and ACT than NT. There was also a significant difference between ACT and NT. For cognitive planning, improvements were seen following ACT and NT. In conclusion, an acute session of ACT demonstrated a significant trend towards improvements in executive functions in adults with DS which we interpreted using a model of neural changes and the cognitive stimulation hypothesis.

Highlights

Down syndrome (DS), known as Trisomy 21, is the most common chromosomal condition in the United States
Based on a one way ANOVA of mean rate of perceived exertion (RPE) for all resistance training (RT) tasks, and for assisted cycle therapy (ACT) and no training (NT), there were no significant differences p > 0.26 among these interventions, a one-way ANOVA for HR was significant F(2,38) = 12.18, p= 0.00 and post hoc analysis showed that RT HR was greater than NT (p = 0.00) and was tending towards greater than ACT (p = 0.082)
For the percent correct responses there was a trend towards conventional levels of significance for the main effect of time F(1,12) = 1.062, p = 0.16 in which the percent correct responses increased in all interventions

Summary

Introduction

Down syndrome (DS), known as Trisomy 21, is the most common chromosomal condition in the United States. DS causes moderate to severe cognitive impairment, including deficits in executive function (EF), as well as delays in language and speech development, nonverbal cognitive development, and auditory short-term memory [2,3]. Around 56.6% of adults with DS in the United States are employed, executive functioning difficulties limit many everyday activities [4]. Executive functions are important to almost every aspect of life, and refer to a topdown mental process needed when you are concentrating and paying attention when automatic or instinct responses would be insufficient [5]. People with DS often have deficits in executive functioning, including inhibition, cognitive planning, attention, working memory, shifting, and processing speed [6]. Cognitive planning is vital for independence (e.g., managing steps involved in transportation, jobs) and quality of life (e.g., planning involved in grooming, dressing etc.) in persons with Down syndrome

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