title: The association between a single bout of moderate physical activity and executive function in young adults with Down syndrome: a preliminary study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was aimed at investigating the impact of a single exercise intervention on executive function in young adults with Down syndrome (DS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Considering the relations among executive function, physical and mental health and early onset of Alzheimer's disease in this population, we tested three components of executive function (e.g. choice-response time, attention shifting and inhibition) that have been shown to be impaired in previous studies. Ten persons with DS were assigned to an exercise group, who walked on a treadmill for 20 min at moderate intensity and ten additional persons with DS were assigned to an attentional control group, who watched a video. Measures of executive function were tested pre and post interventions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These results showed non-significant improvements in choice-response time (P = 0.32) and attention shifting (P = 0.13) but a statistically significant improvement in inhibition (P = 0.03) after the exercise intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the improved inhibition ability, exercise may be an effective intervention, even in a signal session. However, only a few studies have focused on this topic. Based on theoretical models linking exercise to executive function, we proposed that exercise may increase arousal status or enhance neural transmission. Hence, future work is needed to examine the exact mechanism in the relationship between exercise and executive function for individuals with DS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Human Physiology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
authors.forename: C-C J J
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Exercise Science and Health Promotion Program, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: S D R
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Ringenbach
authors.affiliation: Exercise Science and Health Promotion Program, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crews
authors.affiliation: Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Physical Education, Arizona State University, Polytechnic campus, Mesa, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Kulinna
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Eric L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Amazeen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Down syndrome; cognition; executive function; physical activity