Theses and Dissertations

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6411-8302

Advisor

Agiovlasitis, Stamatis

Committee Member

Brown, Stanley P.

Committee Member

Motl, Robert W.

Committee Member

Fernhall, Bo

Date of Degree

5-10-2024

Original embargo terms

Immediate Worldwide Access

Document Type

Dissertation - Open Access

Major

Kinesiology (Exercise Science)

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D)

College

College of Education

Department

Department of Kinesiology

Abstract

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic condition caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. Adults with DS have cardiovascular and metabolic alteration, which may lead to an increased number of cardiovascular disease risk factors in this population. Such impairments may affect their ability to exercise and perform moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Moreover, MVPA may affect arterial health differently in adults with DS due to endothelial dysfunction and sympathetic impairment. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate differences in cardiovascular health and physical activity (PA) profiles between adults with and without DS. Specific aims of this dissertation were to determine whether traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors predict arterial stiffness in adults with and without DS, investigate differences in PA and sedentary behavior (SB) levels and patterns using population-specific activity intensity cut-points in adults with and without DS, and to investigate whether DS moderates the relationship between SB and MVPA levels and arterial stiffness. Results from stepwise linear regression indicated that age, DS, and waist circumference significantly predicted arterial stiffness for the entire sample, and that many of the risk factors that predict arterial stiffness in adults without DS – body composition, blood pressure, and MVPA – do not predict arterial stiffness in adults with DS. Results from mixed-model ANOVA indicated that adults with DS had less sedentary time but greater MVPA than adults without DS and that adults with DS performed greater number of sedentary and MVPA bouts than adults without DS; however, these bouts were of shorter duration. Lastly, results from moderation analysis indicated that DS moderated the relationship between MVPA and arterial stiffness; however, the effect of age was greater than MVPA or DS on arterial stiffness. Adults with DS have greater number of cardiovascular disease risk factors than adults without DS; however, this does not appear to increase arterial stiffness. Furthermore, adults with DS may have better PA and SB profiles than adults without DS; however, MVPA levels do not affect arterial stiffness in this population. Therefore, differences in cardiovascular health and PA profiles may identify disparities in health between adults with and without DS.

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