Alyt Oppewal

Alyt Oppewal is an Assistant Professor at the Department of General Practice, Intellectual Disability Medicine, Erasmus MC, Faculty of Medicine. Her research focuses on physical activity, fitness, and healthy aging in adults with intellectual disabilities. She is actively involved in the Healthy Ageing and Intellectual Disabilities study and contributes to public health and disability research aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Education:

• PhD in Measuring Physical Fitness in Older Adults with Intellectual Disabilities, Erasmus MC (2014)
• Master of Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen (2011)
• Bachelor of Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen (2009)

Her research interests lie at the intersection of human movement science, epidemiology, and disability medicine. She investigates how physical activity, exercise programs, and environmental factors influence cardiovascular health, sleep-wake rhythms, mood, and behavior in adults with intellectual disabilities. Her work emphasizes both observational studies and intervention trials to promote healthier lifestyles and prevent chronic diseases.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward systematic reviews and large-scale cohort studies, with a focus on cardiovascular disease, physical fitness assessment, and behavioral interventions. She frequently collaborates on interdisciplinary research involving cardiology, neurology, and public health.

Scientific Awards:

• No scientific awards explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Alyt Oppewal has supervised at least two students, including M.J. de Leeuw and M.N. Böhmer, contributing to doctoral theses and collaborative research. She is involved in grant-funded projects such as the Active Healthy study and the Healthy Ageing and Intellectual Disabilities study, which support her research on lifestyle interventions and long-term health outcomes. She collaborates extensively with researchers across disciplines and institutions, focusing on improving health equity for people with intellectual disabilities.

Her work is associated with key research networks and she contributes to advancing knowledge through systematic reviews, clinical studies, and public health initiatives aimed at reducing health disparities in vulnerable populations.