The International Summit on Health Benefits of Physical Fitness for People With Down Syndrome: Current Science, Gaps, Priorities, and Research Opportunities

ABSTRACTThe summary paper reports on and highlights the scientific discussions and development process for new expert‐recommended physical fitness guidelines for individuals with Down syndrome that occurred at the inaugural International Summit on Health Benefits of Physical Fitness for People with Down Syndrome (ISFDS). The Summit was a two‐day event held in May 2025 at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston that brought together leading international scientists, clinicians, self‐advocates, community services and industries, and local and national advocacy organizations to discuss the latest research, therapies, and collaborative opportunities in physical fitness for individuals with Down syndrome. Day 1 focused on the current state of the science and the identification of research gaps; Day 2 featured working groups dedicated to developing collaborations, planning future research, and creating expert clinical guidelines on physical fitness in children and adults with Down syndrome using a Delphi approach.<p></p>