Functional fitness of adults with Down syndrome: a longitudinal study.

Boer (2024) tracked the same adults with Down syndrome for 12 years. They tested balance, leg strength, and aerobic capacity every few years. No exercise program was given; they just watched what happened.

The group lived in the community, not in institutions. Staff helped with testing but did not coach fitness.

Every fitness measure got worse. Balance, strength, and VO2peak dropped by medium-to-large amounts. The losses sped up after age 35.

By year 12, most adults needed help with stairs or long walks.

Izquierdo-Gomez et al. (2015) saw the opposite in teens: vigorous play improved fitness. The difference is age. Teens can still gain; adults slide once they stop moving.

Alaimo et al. (2015) found adaptive living skills also shrink with age in Down syndrome. Boer (2024) shows the body follows the same downhill path.

Shire et al. (2022) gave the snapshot: adults with Down syndrome start adulthood already far behind peers. Boer (2024) now shows that gap keeps widening.

Waiting until you see weakness is too late. Start low-impact strength and balance drills in the twenties. Build habits before the slide begins. Use short, fun sessions with favorite music and a buddy—Van der Molen et al. (2010) showed that’s what keeps adults with Down syndrome coming back. Your program today can delay the steep drop this study predicts.