Physical activity is essential for preventing noncommunicable diseases and improving health parameters. However, individuals with intellectual disabilities often struggle to meet recommended activity levels. Sustainable solutions and long-term follow-up are crucial for evaluating intervention efficacy. This mixed-method longitudinal follow-up study examines the effects and experiences of a 12-week web-based exercise programme on individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID). Body composition, physical activity levels and waist circumference were measured before and after the 12-week intervention period as well as 12 months after the end of the intervention period (i.e., long-term follow-up). Experiences were analysed using semistructured interviews. In the data analysis, repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni correction was utilised to investigate changes over time. No significant changes were observed after 12 months, but there were effects on postintervention compared with preintervention on waist circumference. Some participants reported experiencing health benefits, which contributed to motivation, while others lacked motivation and were unaware that they could continue to exercise. While improvements were noted post-intervention, sustaining these gains proved challenging during long-term follow-up. This study highlights the potential of web-based exercise programmes to support individuals with ID in increasing physical activity levels. However, the findings also underscore the need for more tailored and sustainable interventions, including structured support and ongoing engagement strategies, to enable lasting health behaviour change over time.

Background Deafblindness is a rare and complex condition that is often accompanied by additional intellectual and mental disabilities. Research on adolescents with deafblindness during the post-school transition remains limited, with existing studies primarily focusing on parental perspectives. Sibling voices, particularly in Indonesia, where services are scarce and family-based care is the dominant approach, are underexplored. Aim This study examined how siblings in rural and urban Indonesia manage caregiving and roles during the transition of adolescents with deaf-blindness from school to family. Methods Using a participatory Photovoice approach, eight siblings (aged 15–25) documented their daily realities through photographs, semi-structured interviews, and focus group discussions over a 12-week period. Data were thematically analyzed. Results Six themes emerged: invisible care work, emotional strain, rural–urban divides, social relationships and stigma, temporal transitions, and bridging advocacy. Urban siblings reported tension between education, employment, and caregiving, whereas rural siblings encountered stigma and limited services, but experienced stronger kinship support. Across various contexts, siblings often act as hidden caregivers and advocates, yet their contributions remain undervalued. Conclusions Supporting siblings requires addressing the intersecting dynamics of geographic area, culture, and disability care. Social work professionals must recognize both their challenges and their resilience, which helps them balance caregiving and personal development in the transition phase. Longitudinal research is needed to capture evolving sibling roles across the deafblind transition landscape.

ABSTRACT Introduction Adults with mild intellectual disability (MID; IQ 50–70) or borderline intellectual functioning (BIF; IQ 70–85) are at elevated risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Evidence for intensive trauma-focused treatment in this group is scarce, whereas studies in people without intellectual disabilities suggest that intensive formats improve treatment efficiency and reduce drop-out. This study examined the feasibility, potential effectiveness, and safety of intensive Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) for adults with MID-BIF, PTSD, and complex comorbidities in tertiary mental health care. Methods A nonconcurrent single-case A – B – A design was applied. Six adults received up to 16 EMDR sessions across four weeks, delivered by rotating therapists during a brief inpatient admission including an activation program. PTSD symptoms, diagnosis, and adverse events were assessed. Results Five participants showed significant PTSD symptom reduction; three no longer met diagnostic criteria. All completed treatment without drop-out or adverse events. Conclusion Intensive EMDR appears feasible, safe, and potentially effective for adults with MID-BIF and PTSD in tertiary care.

A single umbilical artery (SUA) is associated with a risk of adverse perinatal outcome. Around 11% of fetuses with SUA present with an associated major anomaly, including those of the central nervous system. However, studies on the associations between SUA and childhood neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), such as intellectual disability (ID), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, impaired hearing and impaired vision, are limited. We aimed to evaluate the risk of NDD in children presenting with an isolated SUA (iSUA) at birth and the possible impact of sex, and to examine the extent to which gestational age at birth and birth weight mediate the effect of iSUA on NDD. This was a historical national cohort study linking data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway with other mandatory national registries. We included all singleton live births in Norway between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2013, and follow-up of the study cohort was concluded on 31 December 2019. We included all newborns diagnosed with iSUA. Data regarding NDD diagnosis were obtained from the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme and the Norwegian Patient Registry. We used multilevel logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs, and performed sex-stratified analyses. A causal mediation analysis of the relationship between iSUA and NDD with preterm birth (live birth < 37 weeks' gestation) and small-for-gestational age (SGA) (birth weight < 5th percentile) was performed. The cohort of 858 397 singleton live births included 3532 cases diagnosed with iSUA (0.41%), of which 1802 (51.3%) were male, 253 (7.2%) were born preterm and 249 (7.0%) were SGA. iSUA was associated with increased odds of subsequent ID (OR, 1.56 (95% CI, 1.09-2.23)) and ADHD (OR, 1.22 (95% CI, 1.02-1.47)), but there was no observed association with other NDD. In sex-stratified analyses, the associations with iSUA were observed in females but not in males. Preterm birth and SGA were each found to mediate < 10% of the total effect of iSUA on ID. iSUA was weakly associated with ID and ADHD, but not with other NDD. These associations were influenced by sex and were mediated by < 10% by preterm birth or SGA. The absence of associations of iSUA with other NDD is reassuring, and this finding is useful in the counseling of expectant parents of fetuses with iSUA. © 2026 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Effects of a music-visual guided physical activity promotion program for adults with intellectual disability in supported care settings: a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Purpose Developing effective community-based services for children with intellectual disabilities and behaviours that challenge in England is a national priority. Service design and delivery guidelines state services should be co-produced with the children and families/carers accessing them. There are no identified data about how well services are delivering this recommendation. This research paper aimed to describe self-reported co-production activities within such services, and to consider how well these align with co-production definitions. Design/methodology/approach During a mapping exercise of community-based services for children with intellectual disabilities and behaviours that challenge in England, staff at 60 services completed an interview including questions concerning co-production. Types of self-reported co-production within services were described. The authors then examined how well these aligned with definitions of co-production. Findings Six types of self-reported “co-production” activities were identified via content analysis – (i) service planning, (ii) recruitment processes and decisions, (iii) individual case work, (iv) resources used within the service, (v) running training, workshops and groups and (vi) the service’s physical environment. Very few activities met co-production definitions, typically being classified as participation or co-creation. Practical implications All involved in the planning and delivery of services need to better consider how to implement additional activities that meet higher-level co-production definitions. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first known assessment of how well community-based services for children with intellectual disabilities and behaviours that challenge are enacting guidance that service design and delivery should be co-produced.

ADK deficiency, an extremely rare inherited metabolic disorder affecting methylation, is likely underdiagnosed as a cause of epilepsy. The limited number of reported cases and variability in presentation, particularly the absence of hypermethioninemia, pose diagnostic challenges. We report an 11-year-9-month-old Indonesian boy with refractory seizures, developmental delay, dysmorphic features, hypotonia, and intellectual disability. Despite normal methionine levels, WES revealed a variant in theADKgene, confirmed by Sanger sequencing; both parents were heterozygous carriers. Management with multiple antiseizure medications and a methionine-restricted diet reduced seizures, though development remained limited. This case report highlights the first genetically confirmed ADK deficiency case from Indonesia. A concise literature review of reported cases worldwide is also provided to contextualize this atypical phenotype and discuss current diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.

Collaboration Between Participants with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Researchers on the Advanced Eat and Exercise to Win Program

Tremor is a heterogeneous symptom and may be caused by genetic and non-genetic causes. Tremors in the paediatric age group associated with other features may be suggestive of a syndromic diagnosis. We describe the case of a 13-year-old boy who presented to the neurology department with progressive tremors. A reflex genetic evaluation revealed mild-moderate intellectual disability, subtle dysmorphic features and action-induced coarse tremors. A high-resolution chromosomal microarray confirmed the presence of 9p13.3 microdeletion syndrome. We delineate the core features of this syndrome and provide a comparison of all the reported features associated with this contiguous deletion syndrome.

This study investigated predictors of reunification and reentry for children in Dutch out-of-home care. Case files of 340 children (aged 0-16) placed out of home in 2018 were coded and analyzed. Potential predictors were identified with bivariate correlations. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to predict the time until reunification, and a logistic regression to predict reentry. Within 6years of placement, 42% of the children were reunified with their parents - of which 26% reentered out-of-home care. Professional support directed at the parents during placement more than doubled the likelihood of reunification. In contrast, multiple placement shifts, parental history of childhood maltreatment, limited parenting capacities, and parental intellectual disability decreased this likelihood. Among reunified children, parental childhood maltreatment, domestic violence, and placement in group care increased the risk of reentry in out-of-home care. Our findings underscore the importance of targeted professional support during and after the process of reunification.

Background and purposeDown Syndrome, the most common chromosomal abnormality worldwide, causes intellectual disabilities alongside various health challenges. Drooling is a prevalent issue for individuals with Down syndrome due to oral motor dysfunction and worsening other health complications. Management strategies like kinesio taping and oromotor therapy offer distinct advantages for improving drooling. The purpose of the study: to compare the effectiveness of kinesio taping and oromotor therapy in treating drooling in patients with Down syndrome.Material and methodsA comprehensive quasi-experimental study was conducted on 20 Down syndrome patients with drooling problems, divided into two groups (kinesio taping n=10; oromotor therapy n=10) in Dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Data were meticulously collected by reviewing medical records. The Wilcoxon test was used to analyze changes in drooling scores within each group, while the Mann-Whitney test compared score differences between the two groups. Significant values were set at p&lt;0.05, and all analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS 24, IL, USA.ResultsThe test showed significant improvements in both Modified Teacher’s Drooling Scale and Drooling Impact scale before and after treatment for both kinesio taping and oromotor therapy (p&lt;0.01 for all). However, the study found no significant differences between the effectiveness of the two methods in reducing drooling in patients with Down Syndrome, which has important implications for patient care.ConclusionsBoth kinesio taping and oromotor therapy significantly reduce drooling in patients with Down Syndrome. However, there is no significant difference in effectiveness between these two methods.

Repeated sexual assault among people with disabilities: A comparative analysis by disability type.

A Narrative Review of Dental General Anaesthesia in Children With Special Health Care Needs.

Variants that disrupt the function of the chromatin regulator KDM5C cause a rare neurodevelopmental disorder (KDM5C-NDD) characterized by intellectual disability, seizures, and a broad range of systemic features. To better understand this disorder, more detailed and standardized information is required regarding the association between these genetic variants and cognitive and behavioral traits. Utilizing data obtained by the RARE-X KDM5C Data Collection Program, we analyzed survey and genetic data from 31 newly reported individuals. In addition to the expected neurodevelopmental challenges, participants frequently reported growth abnormalities, vision and digestive issues, behavioral concerns, and seizures in nearly half of the cases. Meta-analyses of this data and previously published cases reaffirmed that seizures are a frequent feature in both hemizygous males and heterozygous females with KDM5C variants, with over a third of individuals reporting at least one seizure. Based on the prevalence of seizures in the RARE-X and published datasets, we sought to develop robust quantitative assays of KDM5-associated seizure behavior using the model organism Drosophila. Reducing the expression of its single Kdm5 gene in neurons, but not glia, led to spontaneous and stimulus-induced seizures, underscoring a cell-intrinsic requirement for KDM5 in maintaining neuronal stability. Together, these human and fly studies highlight KDM5C as a critical regulator of nervous system function, demonstrating how patient-driven data collection and scalable model systems can be effectively integrated. This work expands our understanding of KDM5C-NDD and lays the groundwork for future therapeutic discoveries.

Bi-allelic variants in neuronal adhesion molecule astrotactin 1 gene ASTN1 cause diverse neurodevelopmental disorders.

This research aims to map trends, collaboration, and future research focuses in the field of inclusive education technology. Using a bibliometric approach based on the PRISMA framework, articles published in Scopus (2007–2024) were identified, filtered, and analyzed. Bibliographic and citation data are extracted and then processed with RStudio for publication trend analysis, VOSviewer to visualize collaboration networks and topic clusters, and PoP to calculate citation metrics. The results of the study revealed a substantial increase in the number of publications since 2007, with a peak in productivity in 2021. Five main clusters were identified: assistive technology, intellectual disability, UDL, AR, and global collaboration. Network analysis shows that international collaboration strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic, signaling the crucial role of online platforms and digital tools in maintaining the sustainability of inclusive learning. The implications of this research include recommendations for developing a technology-integrated UDL framework, post-pandemic innovations in the form of AI-based adaptive learning systems, and expanding cross-disciplinary collaboration to study various fundamental topics in more depth. The study's limitations lie in the single use of the Scopus database; follow-up studies are recommended to involve other sources such as the WoS and ERIC to gain more diverse and comprehensive insights.

Introduction Fragile X Syndrome is a common, inherited single gene cause of intellectual disability, associated with autism, epilepsy, anxiety, and sensory disturbances. Many of these features have been attributed to cellular dysfunction leading to impaired synaptic plasticity, in particular through metabotropic glutamate and GABA receptor signalling. The function of these pathways in inhibitory interneurons has not been fully elucidated. In this study we test the hypothesis that somatostatin interneurons (SST-INs) display impaired synaptic plasticity, which leads to circuit-level plasticity deficits. Methods We use a combination of whole-cell and extracellular recordings in acute hippocampal brain slices prepared from adult, male wild-type and Fmr1 -/y mice. Results We find that long-term potentiation in SST-INs is enhanced in Fmr1 -/y mice, and that this plasticity is susceptible to GABA B receptor activation. However, long-term potentiation at temporoammonic inputs to CA1 region is not impaired in Fmr1 -/y mice following tetanic stimulation. We find that temporoammonic long-term potentiation is equivalently modified by metabotropic glutamate and GABA receptor pharmacology, despite changes in presynaptic function. Discussion These data show that while SST-IN function is impaired in Fmr1 -/y mice, circuit level plasticity is maintained. This study provides new insights into the function of drugs proposed for the treatment of Fragile X Syndrome.

Unravelling the role of Neurotrimin (NTM), a member of the IgLON family, in mild intellectual disability and anxiety-like behaviors.

Introduction: human communication is the process where two or more people engage in the exchange of information. Pragmatic competence is one of the necessary components to make that communication effective. People with intellectual disability may have difficulty negotiating pragmatics and verbal language in the social domain, a connection often overlooked by the scientific community. Objective: this study, conducted in a special education center, aims to assess the communication processes of people with intellectual disability by focusing on the relationship between pragmatic competence and nonverbal communication. Methodology: different tools were used to evaluate the nonverbal component of communication: intellectual quotient, the pragmatic use of language, verbal expression and motor expression. Results: strong correlations were found between some of the evaluated areas. However, no differences were observed in the intelligence test results. Although no significant differences were detected, both verbal expression and motor expression outcomes were slightly higher among students who scored better on nonverbal communication observation tests. The total pragmatic competence results and standard scores on the K-BIT were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: pragmatics is especially important for adolescents with intellectual disabilities and physical expression may be a crucial means to develop these competences.

Background: Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are understudied in the field of health promotion. Additionally, health promotion programs need tailoring to meet the needs of this population to enhance participation and usability. This study explores coach reflections from an Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching (IHWC) program for individuals with IDD, emphasizing the demands of individualized, client-led work. Methods: Qualitative data were collected through coach debriefs and written reflections during the IHWC program and analyzed thematically. Results: Four themes were developed: coach perspectives and preparedness for working with individuals with IDD; recognizing and responding to client differences in IDD coaching; holding the frame: balancing coaching structure with individual adaptations; and coaching in practice: adapting, reflecting, and looking ahead. Discussion: Coach reflections revealed the need for flexibility, ongoing learning, and preparation to support neurodivergent clients. Direct experience helped coaches grow more confident in adapting IHWC to individual needs. Conclusion: IHWC for individuals with IDD requires reflective training and adaptable approaches that affirm neurodiversity and move beyond standardized models.