Correlations between motor performance and cognitive functions in children born < 1250 g at school age

Area of Science:

• Developmental Pediatrics
• Neuroscience
• Child Psychology

Background:

• Children born with very low birth weight (<1250g) exhibit higher rates of motor and cognitive impairments compared to full-term infants.
• These deficits can persist into childhood, impacting development and requiring early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between motor and cognitive functions in six-year-old children born with very low birth weight.
• To identify specific patterns of impairment and correlations between motor and cognitive domains in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

• Seventy-four children born <1250g were prospectively enrolled and assessed at age six.
• Motor function was evaluated using the Zurich neuromotor assessment (ZNA), including timed performances and associated movements.
• Cognitive functions were assessed using the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (Kaufman-ABC).

Main Results:

• Children demonstrated specific impairments in adaptive motor tasks (pegboard, dynamic balance) and visuomotor cognitive functions.
• Fine motor pegboard tasks correlated with Kaufman-ABC visuomotor subtests ('triangles', 'matrix analogies').
• Poor timed motor performance (<10th percentile) strongly correlated with cognitive delay (IQ <85), particularly in adaptive gross motor and static balance tasks.

Conclusions:

• Motor deficits in very low birth weight children (without severe disabilities) are linked to specific cognitive impairments, especially in the visuomotor domain.
• The findings suggest potential dysfunction in visuomotor transformation, the process linking visual perception to motor output.
• Early, comprehensive assessment of both motor and cognitive functions is crucial for identifying developmental disturbances and guiding therapeutic strategies.