Coordination difficulties, IQ and psychopathology in children with high-risk copy number variants

Abstract Background The prevalence and impact of motor coordination difficulties in children with copy number variants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (ND-CNVs) remains unknown. This study aims to advance understanding of motor coordination difficulties in children with ND-CNVs and establish relationships between intelligence quotient (IQ) and psychopathology. Methods 169 children with an ND-CNV (67% male, median age = 8.88 years, range 6.02–14.81) and 72 closest-in-age unaffected siblings (controls; 55% male, median age = 10.41 years, s.d. = 3.04, range 5.89–14.75) were assessed with the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire, alongside psychiatric interviews and standardised assessments of IQ. Results The children with ND-CNVs had poorer coordination ability (b = 28.98, p < 0.001) and 91% of children with an ND-CNV screened positive for suspected developmental coordination disorder, compared to 19% of controls (OR = 42.53, p < 0.001). There was no difference in coordination ability between ND-CNV genotypes (F = 1.47, p = 0.184). Poorer coordination in children with ND-CNV was associated with more attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (β = −0.18, p = 0.021) and autism spectrum disorder trait (β = −0.46, p < 0.001) symptoms, along with lower full-scale (ß = 0.21, p = 0.011), performance (β = −0.20, p = 0.015) and verbal IQ (β = 0.17, p = 0.036). Mediation analysis indicated that coordination ability was a full mediator of anxiety symptoms (69% mediated, p = 0.012), and a partial mediator of ADHD (51%, p = 0.001) and autism spectrum disorder trait symptoms (66%, p < 0.001) as well as full scale IQ (40%, p = 0.002), performance IQ (40%, p = 0.005) and verbal IQ (38%, p = 0.006) scores. Conclusions The findings indicate that poor motor coordination is highly prevalent and closely linked to risk of mental health disorder and lower intellectual function in children with ND-CNVs. Future research should explore whether early interventions for poor coordination ability could ameliorate neurodevelopmental risk.

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Coordination difficulties, IQ and psychopathology in children with high-risk Copy Number Variants

10.1101/662833 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Adam C Cunningham ◽

Jeremy Hall ◽

Michael J Owen ◽

Marianne B M van den Bree

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Copy Number ◽

Motor Coordination ◽

Developmental Coordination Disorder ◽

Neurodevelopmental Disorder ◽

Copy Number Variants ◽

Mental Health Disorder ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Future Research ◽

Coordination Ability

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence and impact of motor coordination difficulties in children with Copy Number Variants that are associated with high risk of neurodevelopmental disorder (ND-CNVS) remain unknown. The present study aims to advance understanding of motor coordination difficulties in children with ND-CNVs and establish relationships with IQ and psychopathology.Methods169 children with a ND-CNV (67% male, median age 8.88 years, range 6.02-14.81) and 57 closest-in-age unaffected siblings (controls; 55% male, median age 10.41 years, SD=3.04, range 4.89-14.75) were assessed with the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire, alongside psychiatric interviews, and standardised assessments of IQ.Results91% of children with an ND-CNV screened positive for coordination problems, compared to 19% of unaffected sibling controls (OR=42.53, p<.001). There was no difference in coordination ability between ND-CNV genotypes (F=1.47, p=.184). Poorer motor coordination in the ND-CNV group was associated with greater numbers of ADHD (p=.021) and autism spectrum disorder trait (p<.001) symptoms, along with lower full-scale (p=.011), performance (p=.015), and verbal IQ (p=.036). Mediation analysis indicated that coordination ability was a full mediator of anxiety symptoms (69% mediated, p=.012), and a partial mediator of ADHD (51%, p=.001) and ASD trait symptoms (66%, p<.001) along with FSIQ (40%, p=.002) PIQ (40%, p=.005) and VIQ (38%, p=.006) scores.ConclusionsThe findings indicate that poor motor coordination is highly prevalent and closely linked to risk of mental health disorder and lower intellectual function. Future research should explore whether early interventions for poor coordination ability could ameliorate neurodevelopmental risk more generally.

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Is Motor Impairment in Autism Spectrum Disorder Distinct From Developmental Coordination Disorder? A Report From the SPARK Study

Physical Therapy ◽

10.1093/ptj/pzz190 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 100 (4) ◽

pp. 633-644 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Anjana Narayan Bhat

Keyword(s):

Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽

Developmental Coordination Disorder ◽

Motor Impairment ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Spectrum Disorder ◽

Functional Impairments ◽

Large Database ◽

Motor Impairments ◽

Children With Asd ◽

Coordination Disorder

Abstract Background Motor impairments are pervasive in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD); however, children with ASD rarely receive a dual diagnosis of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). The Simons Foundation SPARK study engaged families affected by ASD through an online study. Objectives The DCD parent questionnaire (DCDQ) was used to assess the prevalence of a risk for motor impairment or DCD in children with ASD between 5 and 15 years of age. Design This study utilizes parent reports from a large database of children with ASD. Methods A total of 16,705 parents of children with ASD completed the DCDQ. We obtained our final SPARK dataset (n = 11,814) after filtering out invalid data, using stronger cut-offs to confirm ASD traits, and excluding children with general neuromotor impairments/intellectual delays. We compared DCDQ total and subscale scores from the SPARK dataset with published norms for each age between 5 and 15 years. Results The proportion of children with ASD at risk for a motor impairment was very high at 86.9%. Children with ASD did not outgrow their motor impairments and continued to present with a risk for DCD even into adolescence. Yet, only 31.6% of children were receiving physical therapy services. Limitations Our analysis of a large database of parent-reported outcomes using the DCDQ did not involve follow-up clinical assessments. Conclusions Using a large sample of children with ASD, this study shows that a risk for motor impairment or DCD was present in most children with ASD and persists into adolescence; however, only a small proportion of children with ASD were receiving physical therapist interventions. A diagnosis of ASD must trigger motor screening, evaluations, and appropriate interventions by physical and occupational therapists to address the functional impairments of children with ASD while also positively impacting their social communication, cognition, and behavior. Using valid motor measures, future research must determine if motor impairment is a fundamental feature of ASD.

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