A systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations between motor milestone timing and motor development in neurodevelopmental conditions

Aislinn Bowler; Tomoki Arichi; Chloe Austerberry; Pasco Fearon; Angelica Ronald

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105825

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the associations between motor milestone timing and motor development in neurodevelopmental conditions

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2024 Jul 25:167:105825. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105825. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Aislinn Bowler¹, Tomoki Arichi², Chloe Austerberry³, Pasco Fearon³, Angelica Ronald⁴

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK; Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK. Electronic address: abowle02@mail.bbk.ac.uk.
² Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King's College London, London, UK; Paediatric Neurosciences, Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK.
³ Centre for Family Research, Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK; Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.
⁴ Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London, UK; School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK.

PMID: 39067834
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105825

Abstract

Early motor skills may be important early markers of neurodevelopmental conditions or predictors of their later onset. To explore this, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of infant motor skill assessments in those who go on to gain a clinical diagnosis of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, language conditions, tic disorders, or developmental coordination disorder (DCD). In total, 63 articles met inclusion criteria. Three three-level meta-analyses were run. Meta-analysis of milestone achievement in N= 21205 individuals revealed gross motor milestones were significantly delayed compared to controls (g= 0.53, p< 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed autism (g= 0.63) and DCD (g= 0.53) had the highest magnitude delays. Specific delays were revealed for holding the head up (g= 0.21), sitting (g= 0.28), standing (g= 0.35), crawling (g= 0.19), and walking (g= 0.71). Meta-analyses of standardised motor skill measurements in N= 1976 individuals revealed reduced performance compared to controls in autism and language conditions (g= -0.54, p< 0.001). Together, these findings demonstrate delayed milestone attainment and motor impairments in early childhood in neurodevelopmental conditions.

Keywords: ADHD; Autism; Crawling; DCD; Fine Motor; Gross Motor; Hold Head Up; Infant; Language and Communication Disorders; Milestones; Motor; Motor Disorder; Neurodevelopment disorders; Rolling; Schizophrenia; Sitting; Standing; Tic Disorders; Walking.

Publication types

Review