Workouts didn't clearly sharpen thinking. But brain scans showed an early hint.
People say: “Can exercise help the brain in adults with Down syndrome?” We read the study.
Randomised controlled trial (RCT). 81 people. 12 months (Feb 2020 - Nov 2023).
A trial. Chance decided who did what.
Who: Adults (18+) with Down syndrome without dementia, living with a caregiver, not already exercising regularly, recruited via local Down syndrome service organisations around Kansas City, USA; mean age ~27, 55% women; cognitive data on 72, MRI on ~52% (33 at 12 months in the two exercise arms)
- Better thinking scoresno clearno group stood out
- Grey matter, 3x a weeksteady1x a week: dipped
- Classes attended90%3x a week group
More to know, from our read of the paper:
- Brain MRI only in ~52% of participants (COVID restrictions); the control arm was dropped from the imaging analysis (only 3-4 scans), so grey matter compares 3x/week vs 1x/week only, 20 vs 13 people at 12 months. Possible selection bias in who got scanned (authors)
- Young sample (mean ~27), so it cannot speak to Alzheimer's prevention; authors frame results as short-term brain-health adaptations, not disease modification. Volunteers with caregivers and home internet; may not represent all adults with Down syndrome
- All arms (incl. control) got a Fitbit, an iPad and twice-monthly remote coaching; the control did not get group exercise classes. Say 'coaching without classes', not 'did nothing'
- Language: person-first ('adults with Down syndrome'), never 'DS patients' or 'Down syndrome adults'
A hint worth testing, not proof.
In this trial, 81 adults with Down syndrome (average age 27) were randomly assigned to live online group workouts three times a week, once a week, or coaching without classes, for 12 months. On thinking and memory tests, no group clearly did better than the others. On brain scans, grey matter held steady in the three-times-a-week group and dipped slightly in the once-a-week group, but only about half the participants could be scanned and the authors call these results exploratory. The three-times-a-week group attended 90% of its classes.
Ptomey LT, Aschenbrenner AJ, Helsel B, Bodde A, Clina JG, Danon JC, Lepping R, Martin LE, Brucks M, Sherman JR, Forsha DE, Washburn RA, Donnelly JE (2026). The impact of a 12-month randomized exercise intervention on cognitive function and brain volume in adults with down syndrome. Disability and Health Journal.
Design: Randomised controlled trial (RCT) · randomised controlled trial (2:2:1) of remotely delivered group exercise 3x/week vs 1x/week vs support-and-education control; this paper reports EXPLORATORY secondary outcomes (cognition, MRI brain volume); primary outcome (MVPA) published separately; no correction for multiple comparisons
DOI: 10.1016/j.dhjo.2026.102134
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