# Central & Peripheral blood flow regulation in individuals with Down syndrome

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS · 2020 · $235,712

## Abstract

Down syndrome (DS) is the most prevalent genetic cause of intellectual disability and occurs in
approximately 1 in every 700 births in the US. Individuals with DS are at increased risk for a number of
health issues. Work capacity is an important predictor of declining health or physical function, and of
mortality, and is commonly measured as peak oxygen consumption. Peak oxygen consumption is very
low in individuals with DS, and cannot be explained by physical inactivity, lack of motivation, or lack of
understanding of the test. To date, the nature of the limitations in work capacity in DS is unknown, and the
proposed research aims to address this knowledge gap.
Work capacity is determined by central and peripheral regulation of blood flow (i.e. cardiac output and
maintaining arterial blood pressure vs. supplying exercising muscles with oxygen and nutrients). These
factors are governed by the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous
system. Central regulation of blood flow is impaired in individuals with DS due to cardiovascular
autonomic dysfunction, whereby parasympathetic activity is high and sympathetic control is reduced. This
results in lower heart rate, less adequate blood pressure control and attenuated catecholamine levels
during exercise. It is unknown to what extent this impaired central control impacts cardiac output, and
subsequently work capacity, during exercise in individuals with DS.
Peripheral blood flow regulation is even less studied in individuals with DS. Peripheral regulation involves
sympathetically regulated vasoconstriction in non-active muscles and tissues, and local mechanisms
regulating vasodilation in working muscles, which facilitates blood flow to working muscle in order to meet
metabolic demand. Individuals with DS may partly experience reduced work capacity due to this inability
to shunt blood to the working tissue effectively.
The aim of this research proposal is therefore to determine the impact of limitations in central and
peripheral regulation of blood flow on work capacity in individuals with DS. We aim to examine the
responses to exercise training to better understand the underlying mechanisms and the potential to
improve health by using this knowledge in exercise interventions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10020792
- **Project number:** 5R00HD092606-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS
- **Principal Investigator:** Thessa Hilgenkamp
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $235,712
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-20 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10020792

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10020792, Central & Peripheral blood flow regulation in individuals with Down syndrome (5R00HD092606-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10020792. Licensed CC0.

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