A Regional Community-Based Healthy Lifestyle Intervention Is Associated With Improved Cognitive Performance in Preschoolers With Disabilities

This study examines the impact of a community-based healthy lifestyle intervention on cognitive development in preschool-aged children with and without disabilities. Studies suggest that young children from low-income homes have increased risk for sedentary lifestyles, obesity, and poor academic performance and children with disabilities have greater challenges. Data on measures of cognitive development were gathered from retrospective observational studies on students aged 2–5 years with Individualised Education Programs (IEPs) for known learning or developmental disabilities (n = 63) and those without IEPs (n = 245) who participated in the Northeast Iowa, USA, Food and Fitness Initiative for at least a year. In this study, active play, nutritional support for parents and students, and community engagement improved cognitive development for some children, particularly those with disabilities. Findings from this study support existing research on the positive impact of exercise and nutrition on cognitive performance particularly in children with disabilities. The study results show that early healthy lifestyle intervention in young children with disabilities may improve cognitive development and mitigate disparities in learning outcomes.