A Summary by Justin McCullick Physical fitness is predictive for a decline in daily functioning in older Adults with Intellectual Disability: Results of the HA-ID study A Summary by Justin McCullick

Background and Purpose Study was part of the ‘Healthy ageing and intellectual disabilities (HA- ID) conducted in Netherlands Purpose: “to assess the predictive value of physical fitness for daily functioning, over a 3-year period, in a large sample of older adults with Intellectual Disability (ID)”. (Oppewal, HilgenKamp, van Wijck, Schoufour, & Evenhuis, 2014).

Sample Participants were from three ID care organizations and two universities. Participants were 50 years and over 1050 participants as a representative sample 602 participants completed the study with a follow up after 3 years. Participants severity of ID ranged from borderline to severe and was obtained from Behavioral therapist and psychologists’ paperwork.

Methods Conducted Baseline Collected Age, gender, IQ scores, and presences of Down Syndrome (DS) Measured physical fitness Manual Dexterity – Box and Block Test Reaction Time – Auditive and visual time task Balance – Berg Balance Scale Gait Speed – Comfortable and Fast speeds over 5 m distance Grip Strength – Jamar Hand Dynamometer Muscular endurance – 30 s Chair Stand Flexibility – Extended version of Modified Back Saver sit and reach test Cardiorespiratory Fitness – 10 m incremental shuttle walking test

Methods Daily Functioning Operational definition included Bowel Control Bladder Control Grooming Toilet use Feeding Transfer Walking Dressing Stair Climbing Bathing Filled out by Caregivers Scores ranged from 0 to 20 with 0 being completely dependent Assessed Mobility Walking in multiple situation (i.e., inside the house, at work or school, outside in a protected area, Outside in an unprotected area

Results Three years later they researchers followed up with participants. Caregivers again filled out the items that were taken initially. Analysis was completed with simple linear regression. Each fitness component was an independent variable; Follow-up ADL or mobility was the dependent variable Multiple regression was assessed (i.e., age, gender, level of ID, DS, and baseline score).

Discussion and Conclusions Fitness predicts declines in ADL’s for individuals with ID which parallels the general population To maintain Independence, physical fitness and recreation activities need to be provided. 602 participants performed at least one physical fitness test and had follow up data available. ADL and Mobility was significantly worse at follow up. All physical fitness components predicted higher ADL scores. All physical fitness components except auditive reaction time, grip strength and flexibility were predictors of decline.

Reference Oppewal, A., Hilgenkamp, T.I.M., van Wijck, R., Schoufour, J.D., H. M. (2014). Physical fitness is predictive for a decline in daily functioning in older adults with intellectual disabilities: Results of the Ha-ID study. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 35(10), 2299-2315. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2014.05.027