White matter alterations in adults with probable developmental coordination disorder

Abstract

Movement skill difficulties in children [or developmental coordination disorder (DCD)] often persist into adulthood (in up to 70% of cases). The suggestion of white matter microstructure alterations in children with DCD raises the question of whether similar alterations are present in adults with probable DCD (pDCD). Twelve adults with pDCD and 11 adults without pDCD underwent diffusion tensor imaging. The results showed that the pDCD group had significantly lower fractional anisotropy in the corticospinal tract and superior longitudinal fasciculus and lower mean diffusivity in the internal capsule and inferior longitudinal fasciculus. This suggests reduced white matter integrity in parietofrontal and corticospinal tracts, with possible compensatory increases in white matter integrity along the visual ventral stream and front-occipital networks. These findings support recent neuroimaging studies in children with DCD and suggest persistent neurobiological alterations along white matter tracts that are known to support motor planning, cognition and their association.

Neuroimaging Findings for Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) in Adults: Critical Evaluation and Future Directions

“…In contrast, the finding of lower FA in the CST tract does not replicate previous findings for children [63]. However, it has to be born in mind that given the considerable heterogeneity of DCD, the results are not directly comparable because these studies tested different individuals who also markedly differed in age range (18-40 years [56] and 8-12 years [63]). As DTI (or (HARDI)) with (CSD) is not an invasive method, and does not use ionising radiation, it would be desirable to clarify these differences in a longitudinal study which starts in childhood and continues into adulthood.…”

“…The results from Hyde and colleagues' study based on CSD seem very promising. However, the authors did not replicate the CST abnormality found in the study reported by Williams and colleagues [56], and relied on a small sample of participants; therefore, the results of Hyde and colleagues' study need to be replicated with a larger sample of DCDAs.…”

“…The authors hypothesised that difficulties found in DCD, such as poor surround inhibition, compromised motor Areas of non-typical brain involvement reported in neuroimaging studies of DCDAs vs. CPs displayed on the R and L medial surfaces of the brain, the brain surface viewed from above and the horizontal section of the brain. The numbers in the coloured rectangular shapes denote each neuroimaging study, as follows: 1 = Marien et al [51], 2 = Kashuk et al [52]; 3 = He et al [53], 4 = Hyde et al [54], 5 = Hodgson et al [55], 6 = Williams et al [56] and 7 = Hyde et al [57]. See Table 1 for details; * denotes not a significant result, but a trend (with medium-large effect size) for decreased tract volume of the R SLF; ** denotes significantly reduced LH lateralisation in DCDAs vs. CPs.…”

“…A DTI study by Williams and colleagues [56] investigated whether white matter microstructure alterations reported in children with DCD [61][62][63] were also present in pDCDAs. Twelve pDCDAs and 11 CPs underwent DTI.…”

Alterations in white matter microstructure are associated with goal‐directed upper‐limb movement segmentation in children born extremely preterm

“…These circuits are involved in high‐order control of movements, including planning, coordination, and surveillance. Increased FA in the ALIC, or nearby areas, has previously been identified in children born PT [Allin et al, ; Groeschel et al, ], and decreased MD in the ALIC has been found in adults with developmental coordination disorder [Williams et al, ]. The mechanism behind this increase in FA is unknown.…”