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

Abstract

Approximately 75% of those diagnosed with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) exhibit motor problems in adulthood. Neuroimaging studies promise to reveal the endophenotypes of mature brain systems affected by DCD. The aim here was to review these publications. Bibliographic searches identified papers published before June 2019. Neuroimaging results revealed: functional abnormalities in the prefrontal, frontal and occipital regions, superior parietal lobe and cerebellum; structural white matter abnormalities in the corticospinal tract, internal capsule and inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculi; significantly reduced interhemispheric cortical inhibition within the primary motor cortex (hPMC); lack of increased hPMC activity during a motor imagery task and a reduced leftwards brain asymmetry for speech. These results suggest complex endophenotypes for adults with DCD (DCDAs). However, the studies have shortcomings. For instance, all relied upon small and unrepresentative samples. Gender and age were not tested systematically. The effects of many co-occurring disorders were not controlled. Most studies relied on between group comparisons, which, given the heterogeneity of DCD, may obscure the results for underrepresented cases. Overall, the young field of neuroimaging studies of DCDAs reported interesting results; however, there is an urgent need for investigations to address these shortcomings. Future research directions, including cuttingedge neuroimaging techniques and imaging genetics, are discussed. using a skill and chronological age), acquisition and execution of coordinated motor skills. Second, this motor deficit significantly interferes with the activities of everyday life, academic achievements and occupational and recreational activities. Third, DCD symptoms have their onset in early development. Fourth, deficits in motor skills are not better accounted for by intellectual or visual deficits, or neurological impairments, such as degenerative disorder, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson's disease, which affect movement.Different prevalence rates of DCD have been reported; however, perhaps the most reliable are the results from a large UK population study of 6990 7-to 8-yearold children [2]. This study revealed a prevalence of 1.7%. An additional 3.2% of children were identified as having 'probable DCD' by using broader cut-off criteria on tests of motor coordination and activities of daily living. Males are more often affected than females, with the male to female ratio ranging from 2:1 to 7:1 [1].Until recently, motor-coordination difficulties in childhood were thought to be typically outgrown in adulthood. However, it is estimated that approximately 75% of those diagnosed with DCD will continue to exhibit motor problems into adulthood [3,4]. Indeed, studies on DCDAs [5-18] demonstrate that they perform significantly worse than control participants (CPs) on various motor tasks. If one pauses for a moment and considers that the only way humans can affect the wo...

Anthropometric, physical activity, and psychological characteristics of Korean adults with and without developmental coordination disorder (DCD)

“…In the absence of a conclusive medical intervention or remedy for DCD, about 75% of those affected persist in experiencing DCD throughout adulthood (Kirby et al, 2008;Reid, 2020). Yet, comprehension regarding the shifts in the physical, psychological, and behavioral traits among adults with 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1280356 DCD is minimal (Meachon et al, 2022).…”