{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,21]],"date-time":"2026-10-21T10:06:31Z","timestamp":1792577191482,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"23","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,29]],"date-time":"2023-11-29T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1701216000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Canadian Down Syndrome Society","award":["1:68055814"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["1:68055814"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["IJERPH"],"abstract":"<jats:p>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. 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. Eighty-three participants (age 27.1 \u00b1 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). All were completed pre- and post-intervention. Participants were assigned to eight weeks of either exercise (EXE), 3 \u00d7 30 min of walking\/jogging per week, cognitive training (COG) 6 \u00d7 ~20 min per week, a combined group (COM), and a control group (CON) engaging in no intervention. 6MWT distance increased by 11.4% for EXE and 9.9% for COM (p &lt; 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 &lt; 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 &lt; 0.05). 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.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph20237121","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,30]],"date-time":"2023-11-30T00:34:10Z","timestamp":1701304450000},"page":"7121","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":10,"title":["Impact of Prescribed Exercise on the Physical and Cognitive Health of Adults with Down Syndrome: The MinDSets Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"20","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2739-9176","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Viviane","family":"Merzbach","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Cambridge Centre for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Michael","family":"Ferrandino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cambridge Centre for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0303-7293","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marie","family":"Gernigon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cambridge Centre for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK"},{"name":"CIAMS, Universit\u00e9 Paris-Saclay, CEDEX, 91405 Orsay, France"},{"name":"CIAMS, Universit\u00e9 d\u2019Orl\u00e9ans, 45067 Orl\u00e9ans, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6118-3694","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jorge","family":"Marques Pinto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cambridge Centre for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Adrian","family":"Scruton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cambridge Centre for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dan","family":"Gordon","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cambridge Centre for Sport & Exercise Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge CB1 1PT, UK"},{"name":"CIAMS, Universit\u00e9 Paris-Saclay, CEDEX, 91405 Orsay, France"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,29]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.1038\/nrg1525","article-title":"Down syndrome and genetics\u2014A case of linked histories","volume":"6","author":"Patterson","year":"2005","journal-title":"Nat. Rev. Genet."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1543","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2020.17024","article-title":"Medical care of adults with Down syndrome: A clinical guideline","volume":"324","author":"Tsou","year":"2020","journal-title":"Jama"},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1604","DOI":"10.1053\/S0003-9993(03)00342-3","article-title":"Chronotropic incompetence in persons with down syndrome","volume":"84","author":"Guerra","year":"2003","journal-title":"Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Klotzbier, T.J., Holfelder, B., and Schott, N. (2022). Associations of motor performance and executive functions: Comparing children with Down syndrome to chronological and mental age-matched controls. Children, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/children9010073"},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"L892","DOI":"10.1152\/ajplung.00434.2020","article-title":"Lung disease manifestations in Down syndrome","volume":"321","author":"Danopoulos","year":"2021","journal-title":"Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2249.2011.04335.x","article-title":"Infections and immunodeficiency in Down syndrome","volume":"164","author":"Ram","year":"2011","journal-title":"Clin. Exp. Immunol."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103802","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ridd.2020.103802","article-title":"Executive function in Down syndrome: A meta-analysis","volume":"108","author":"Tungate","year":"2021","journal-title":"Res. Dev. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1020","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2788.2011.01425.x","article-title":"Identifying the barriers and facilitators to participation in physical activity for children with Down syndrome","volume":"55","author":"Barr","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Intellect. Disabil. Res."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1457","DOI":"10.1111\/jar.12773","article-title":"Physical activity patterns in adults with Down Syndrome","volume":"33","author":"Oreskovic","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Appl. Res. Intellect. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"795","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2788.2010.01308.x","article-title":"Identifying facilitators and barriers to physical activity for adults with Down syndrome","volume":"54","author":"Mahy","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Intellect. Disabil. Res."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.1002\/tsm2.195","article-title":"Conventional exercise interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"4","author":"Cugusi","year":"2021","journal-title":"Transl. Sports Med."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"168","DOI":"10.1111\/jir.12562","article-title":"Effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity in individuals with intellectual disabilities: A systematic review of randomised controlled trials","volume":"63","author":"Hassan","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Intellect. Disabil. Res."},{"key":"ref_13","first-page":"CD005176","article-title":"Aerobic exercise training programmes for improving physical and psychosocial health in adults with Down syndrome","volume":"12","author":"Andriolo","year":"2005","journal-title":"Cochrane Database Syst. Rev."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.1016\/S0166-2236(02)02143-4","article-title":"Exercise: A behavioural intervention to enhance brain health and plasticity","volume":"25","author":"Cotman","year":"2002","journal-title":"Trends Neurosci."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"493","DOI":"10.1007\/s10571-009-9488-x","article-title":"Biological mechanisms of physical activity in preventing cognitive decline","volume":"30","author":"Lista","year":"2010","journal-title":"Cell. Mol. Neurobiol."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2029","DOI":"10.1212\/WNL.0b013e3181a92c36","article-title":"Predictors of maintaining cognitive function in older adults: The Health ABC study","volume":"72","author":"Yaffe","year":"2009","journal-title":"Neurology"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"320","DOI":"10.1249\/JSR.0000000000000169","article-title":"The cognitive benefits of exercise in youth","volume":"14","author":"Diamond","year":"2015","journal-title":"Curr. Sports Med. Rep."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1096","DOI":"10.1002\/hipo.22590","article-title":"A single bout of resistance exercise improves memory consolidation and increases the expression of synaptic proteins in the hippocampus","volume":"26","author":"Fernandes","year":"2016","journal-title":"Hippocampus"},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"443","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neubiorev.2017.06.012","article-title":"Physical exercise as an epigenetic modulator of brain plasticity and cognition","volume":"80","author":"Fernandes","year":"2017","journal-title":"Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1611","DOI":"10.1111\/psyp.12736","article-title":"Acute effects of moderate aerobic exercise on specific aspects of executive function in different age and fitness groups: A meta-analysis","volume":"53","author":"Ludyga","year":"2016","journal-title":"Psychophysiology"},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dcn.2013.11.001","article-title":"Acute exercise facilitates brain function and cognition in children who need it most: An ERP study of individual differences in inhibitory control capacity","volume":"7","author":"Drollette","year":"2014","journal-title":"Dev. Cognit. Neurosci."},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1046\/j.1365-2788.2001.00298.x","article-title":"Working memory and everyday cognition in adults with Down\u2019s syndrome","volume":"45","author":"Numminen","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. Intellect. Disabil. Res."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"175","DOI":"10.1352\/0895-8017(2004)109<175:AAPOOA>2.0.CO;2","article-title":"Attitudinal and psychosocial outcomes of a fitness and health education program on adults with Down syndrome","volume":"109","author":"Heller","year":"2004","journal-title":"Am. J. Ment. Retard."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"World Medical Association (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. Jama, 310, 2191\u20132194.","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2013.281053"},{"key":"ref_25","first-page":"1239","article-title":"Jog-walk training in cardiorespiratory fitness of adults with Down syndrome","volume":"96","author":"Tsimaras","year":"2003","journal-title":"Percept. Mot. Skills"},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Kane, S.P. (2023, February 01). ClinCalc.com. Available online: https:\/\/clincalc.com\/."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"783","DOI":"10.1007\/s10882-018-9619-8","article-title":"Exploring Associations with 6-Minute Walk Test Performance in Adolescents and Young Adults with Down Syndrome: A Pilot Study","volume":"30","author":"Chen","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Dev. Phys. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1384","DOI":"10.1164\/ajrccm.158.5.9710086","article-title":"Reference equations for the six-minute walk in healthy adults","volume":"158","author":"Enright","year":"1998","journal-title":"Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med."},{"key":"ref_29","first-page":"33","article-title":"Exercise prescription when there is no exercise test: The Talk Test","volume":"50","author":"Foster","year":"2018","journal-title":"Kinesiology"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1096","DOI":"10.3758\/BRM.42.4.1096","article-title":"PsyToolkit: A software package for programming psychological experiments using Linux","volume":"42","author":"Stoet","year":"2010","journal-title":"Behav. Res. Methods"},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.1177\/0098628316677643","article-title":"PsyToolkit: A novel web-based method for running online questionnaires and reaction-time experiments","volume":"44","author":"Stoet","year":"2017","journal-title":"Teach. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jphys.2014.06.012","article-title":"Adherence to exercise programs for older people is influenced by program characteristics and personal factors: A systematic review","volume":"60","author":"Picorelli","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Physiotherapy"},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"144","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ridd.2015.09.011","article-title":"Reliability and validity of the 6-min walk test in adults and seniors with intellectual disabilities","volume":"47","author":"Oviedo","year":"2015","journal-title":"Res. Dev. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"310","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neubiorev.2015.08.002","article-title":"Brain activity during walking: A systematic review","volume":"57","author":"Hamacher","year":"2015","journal-title":"Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1589","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuroimage.2009.12.060","article-title":"Real versus imagined locomotion: A [18F]-FDG PET-fMRI comparison","volume":"50","author":"Zwergal","year":"2010","journal-title":"Neuroimage"},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"551","DOI":"10.1080\/02724980244000620","article-title":"The learning of goal-directed locomotion: A perception-action perspective","volume":"56","author":"Montagne","year":"2003","journal-title":"Q. J. Exp. Psychol. Sec. A"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"170","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ridd.2010.09.007","article-title":"Postural control in children, teenagers and adults with Down syndrome","volume":"32","author":"Rigoldi","year":"2011","journal-title":"Res. Dev. Disabil."},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106","DOI":"10.1037\/a0023933","article-title":"Mind-wandering in younger and older adults: Converging evidence from the Sustained Attention to Response Task and reading for comprehension","volume":"27","author":"Jackson","year":"2012","journal-title":"Psychol. Aging"},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"452","DOI":"10.1037\/pag0000495","article-title":"The effects of age and uncertainty in the Stroop priming task","volume":"36","author":"Tiernan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Psychol. Aging"},{"key":"ref_40","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ivanoff, J., Branning, P., and Marois, R. (2008). fMRI evidence for a dual process account of the speed-accuracy tradeoff in decision-making. PLoS ONE, 3.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0002635"},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1207","DOI":"10.1152\/jn.00149.2022","article-title":"Embodied decisions during walking","volume":"128","author":"Herbort","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Neurophysiol."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1137","DOI":"10.1111\/jir.12626","article-title":"Examining the effects of computerised cognitive training on levels of executive function in adults with Down syndrome","volume":"63","author":"McGlinchey","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Intellect. Disabil. Res."},{"key":"ref_43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"57","DOI":"10.1348\/000712604322779460","article-title":"Working memory components of the Corsi blocks task","volume":"95","author":"Vandierendonck","year":"2004","journal-title":"Br. J. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Schaller, A., Rudolf, K., Dejonghe, L., Grieben, C., and Froboese, I. (2016). Influencing factors on the overestimation of self-reported physical activity: A cross-sectional analysis of low back pain patients and healthy controls. Biomed Res. Int., 2016.","DOI":"10.1155\/2016\/1497213"},{"key":"ref_45","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"338","DOI":"10.1016\/j.bandc.2012.09.001","article-title":"Differential effects of differing intensities of acute exercise on speed and accuracy of cognition: A meta-analytical investigation","volume":"80","author":"McMorris","year":"2012","journal-title":"Brain Cogn."}],"container-title":["International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/20\/23\/7121\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T21:34:12Z","timestamp":1760132052000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/1660-4601\/20\/23\/7121"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,29]]},"references-count":45,"journal-issue":{"issue":"23","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,12]]}},"alternative-id":["ijerph20237121"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/ijerph20237121","relation":{},"ISSN":["1660-4601"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1660-4601","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,11,29]]}}}