Movement skills of younger versus older adults with and without Down syndrome.

Vakil et al. (2012) compared the adults with Down syndrome in their 20s with the adults with Down syndrome in their 50s. They also tested the adults without Down syndrome who were the same age as the older group.

Each person did balance, strength, and coordination tasks like standing on one foot, rising from a chair, and walking a line. The team timed the tasks and counted wobbles.

The older Down syndrome group was slower and shakier on every test. They stood for half as long on one foot and took twice as long to rise from a chair.

The younger Down syndrome group did better, but still scored below the non-Down syndrome adults. Age made the gap grow fast after 40.

Davison et al. (1995) saw the same steep drop, but in memory and daily living skills. Together the papers show ageing hits both mind and body harder in Down syndrome.

Lemons et al. (2015) gave the Four Square Step Test to kids with Down syndrome and found it reliable. You can use that quick test across the life span to catch early balance slips.

Meneghetti et al. (2018) found mental rotation errors in Down syndrome. Poor body awareness may link to both the mind task and the balance task, pointing to shared brain pathways.

Start balance screening in your 20-something clients with Down syndrome. A 30-second single-leg stand or a Four Square Step Test takes little time but flags who needs strength or gait training before falls begin. Re-test every six months; the decline is swift and measurable.