Participation in physical activity and arterial stiffness in males with autism spectrum disorder

Motor Skills, Heart Rate Variability, and Arterial Stiffness in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) among children has been recently increasing. The severity of symptoms greatly varies between individuals with ASD, ranging from relatively mild to extremely severe. It is important to have a clearer understanding of the possible adverse consequences resulting from this disorder, such as delayed motor development, autonomic dysregulation, and arterial stiffness. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate differences in motor skills, heart rate variability (HRV), and arterial stiffness between children with ASD and typically developing children. In this study, the school-aged children with mild symptoms of ASD (n = 17, 11.1 ± 1.0 years old) and typically developing peers (n = 15, 11.0 ± 0.5 years old) were recruited. Motor skills, HRV, and arterial stiffness were measured in these two groups. Motor skills were evaluated by the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Second Edition. Moreover, HRV was measured through a short-term recording using the Polar heart rate monitor, and arterial stiffness was assessed by non-invasive computerized oscillometry. Compared with the typically developing group, children with ASD displayed significant deficits in some areas of motor skills, including manual coordination, strength and agility, and total motor composite. Moreover, children with ASD exhibited significantly reduced HRV, including time- and frequency-domain measures. However, the results did not demonstrate any statistically significant differences in arterial stiffness between the groups. Our findings demonstrated the presence of motor skill deficits and autonomic dysregulation in children with ASD.

Physical activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Their Correlates in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a Systematic Review

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate what is currently known about autistic adults’ participation in physical activity and sedentary behaviour and explore any associated correlates of these behaviours. The databases EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PubMed, and SPORTDiscus were searched for relevant literature. The review was registered with PROSPERO (No. 189187). The search identified 2834 papers, with 12 meeting the criteria for inclusion. Correlates of physical activity and/or sedentary behaviour were reported in eight included studies. The limited evidence identified suggest that autistic adults are unlikely to meet Australia’s physical activity guidelines. Future research should use device-derived measurement to more accurately quantify activity levels within the autistic adult population.

Older Community Residents Who Participate in Group Activities Have Higher Daily Physical Activity Levels and Lower Medical Costs

Participation in a group activity improves levels of activities of daily living and self-rated health in community-dwelling older adults. However, whether the group activity is associated with daily physical activity (PA) levels and medical costs has not yet been explored. The author administered a questionnaire to participants of group activities for community-dwelling older adults. Levels of daily PA were greater in those who participated once a month (n = 1147), twice a month (n = 1432), and 4 times a month (n = 635) compared with nonparticipating counterparts (n = 570). In the stepwise regression, group activity participation rate was identified as an independent predictor of daily PA levels. Before group activities began, there were no differences in medical costs between participants (n = 721) and nonparticipants (n = 1124). However, after group activities were established, medical costs were lower in participants than in nonparticipants. These results suggest that older community residents who participate in group activities have higher daily PA levels and lower medical costs.

Habitual exercise decreases systolic blood pressure during low-intensity resistance exercise in healthy middle-aged and older individuals

Since aerobic exercise (e.g., walking) and resistance exercise (e.g., lifting objects and mopping) are both parts of the activities of daily living, an exaggerated elevation in systolic blood pressure (SBP) during aerobic and resistance exercise is an early marker of cardiovascular disease. This study investigated the effects of habitual exercise on SBP during low-intensity resistance exercise using both cross-sectional and interventional approaches. First, in 57 normotensive women (61.9 ± 1.0 yr of age), daily physical activity level, as assessed by triaxial accelerometry, was correlated with SBP during resistance exercise at 20 and 40% of the 1 repetition maximum ( r = −0.408 and r = −0.348, respectively). Maximal oxygen uptake was correlated with SBP during exercise at 20% ( r = −0.385) and 40% ( r = −0.457). Physical activity level or maximal oxygen uptake was identified as a predictor of SBP during the exercise in stepwise regression analysis, independent of SBP at rest and other factors ( R2= 0.729–0.781). Second, 66 men and women (64.6 ± 0.9 yr of age) participated in a 6-wk intervention as a part of the training (walking, 4.3 ± 0.3 days/wk, 55.6 ± 4.1 min/day, 70.7 ± 1.2% of maximal heart rate) or control group. SBP during resistance exercise in the training group decreased after the intervention (before vs. after: 20%, 143 ± 4 vs. 128 ± 4 mmHg; and 40%, 148 ± 5 vs. 134 ± 4 mmHg). In the control group, there were no significant differences in SBP before and after the intervention. SBP during resistance exercise after the intervention was lower in the training group relative to the control group. These results suggest that habitual exercise decreases SBP during low-intensity resistance exercise.

Changes in arterial stiffness and nitric oxide production with Chlorella-derived multicomponent supplementation in middle-aged and older individuals

Chlorella is a unicellular green alga, which contains a variety of nutrients including amino acids, dietary fibers, n-3 unsaturated fatty acid, vitamins, and minerals. We previously demonstrated that Chlorella-derived multicomponent supplementation decreases arterial stiffness in young men. However, mechanisms underlying the reduction in arterial stiffness by Chlorella-derived supplementation and the effect in middle-aged and older individuals have remained unexplored. This study tested our hypothesis that Chlorella-derived supplementation improves arterial stiffness via an increase in nitric oxide (NO, a endothelium-derived relaxing factor) production in middle-aged and older individuals. Thirty-two subjects between 45 and 75 years of age assigned to placebo and Chlorella groups in a double-blinded manner and took respective tablets for 4 weeks. Before and after the supplementations, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV, an index of arterial stiffness) and plasma nitrite/nitrate (NOx, end product of NO) concentration were measured. There was no difference in baPWV between before and after the placebo intake, but baPWV decreased after the Chlorella supplementation. Changes in baPWV with the Chlorella supplementation were correlated with those in plasma NOx concentration. We concluded that Chlorella-derived multicomponent supplementation decreases arterial stiffness in middle-aged and older individuals. It may be associated with increase in NO production by vascular endothelium.