Keep it simple: comparing functional assessments in individuals with Down syndrome.

Area of Science:

• Clinical assessment and rehabilitation
• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Human motor control and function

Background:

• Existing functional assessments for ambulatory adults may not accurately reflect abilities in individuals with Down syndrome (DS).
• Cognitive demands of complex tasks in assessments can confound results for individuals with DS, who may exhibit lower functional levels when multitasking.
• The study addresses the need for assessments that differentiate between actual functional capacity and cognitive load.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate four common functional assessments in adults with Down syndrome.
• To compare assessments that include complex tasks (modified Berg Balance Test [mBERG], Functional Gait Assessment [FGA]) with those that do not (Timed Up and Go [TUG], Established Populations for Epidemiologic Study in the Elderly [EPESE]).

Main Methods:

• Nineteen adults with Down syndrome participated in the study.
• Participants completed four functional assessments: mBERG, FGA, TUG, and EPESE.
• Bivariate Pearson correlation coefficients were used to compare the results of the assessments.

Main Results:

• Significant associations were found between simple assessments (TUG and EPESE; r = -0.525, P = 0.021) and complex assessments (FGA and mBERG; r = 0.612, P = 0.005).
• The TUG showed an inverse correlation with the FGA (r = -0.476, P = 0.039).
• The EPESE demonstrated a significant association with the mBERG (r = 0.508, P = 0.027).

Conclusions:

• The modified Berg Balance Test (mBERG) may best represent real-world scenarios but could be influenced by cognitive demands.
• The Timed Up and Go (TUG) and Established Populations for Epidemiologic Study in the Elderly (EPESE) may be more suitable for assessing mobility due to their lower cognitive requirements.
• Functional mobility assessments should prioritize simplicity to avoid confounding results with executive function.