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Identifying premature infants at high and low risk for motor delays using motor performance testing and MRS
Patty Coker-Bolt1, Michelle L Woodbury2, Jessica Perkel3
1Division of Occupation Therapy, College of Health Professions, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
Insights
A brief motor skill test accurately reflects longer assessments in premature infants and correlates with brain biochemistry. This may improve early identification of high-risk preterm infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal neurology
- Developmental pediatrics
- Neuroimaging
Background:
- Premature infants face risks of motor skill deficits.
- Early identification of motor impairments is crucial for timely intervention.
- Standardized motor assessments and neuroimaging can provide insights into infant development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify specific motor skills in premature infants.
- To correlate these skills with standardized motor performance tests.
- To investigate relationships between motor skills and brain biochemistry using Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS).
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study involved 22 preterm infants.
- Motor skills were assessed using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) at term and 12 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA).
- Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III and MRS scans were also utilized.
Main Results:
- A 10-item motor skill subset strongly correlated with the full TIMP and Bayley gross motor scores.
- MRS metabolites in basal ganglia and frontal white matter showed significant correlations with motor assessments at different time points.
- These findings suggest a link between specific brain metabolites and motor development in preterm infants.
Conclusions:
- A shortened motor skill assessment can be a reliable indicator of performance on longer standardized tests.
- The study highlights the potential of correlating motor assessments with MRS findings for understanding brain development.
- Validating a shorter assessment could enhance the early detection of motor issues in high-risk preterm infants.
Purpose:
To determine specific motor skills in premature infants, match those that correlate with standards tests of motor performance, and MRS measures of abnormal brain biochemistry.
Methods:
Prospective cohort study of preterm infants (n=22). Infant motor assessments were completed at term and 12 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA) using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III at 12 months CGA. Infants (n=12) received MRS scans at term CGA. Rasch analysis and MRS findings investigated TIMP items well targeted to high and low risk infants.
Results:
A 10 item subset of motor skill items correlated strongly with full 42-item TIMP at term and 12 week testing (r> 0.90, p< 0.001 for both), and with Bayley gross motor scores. MRS metabolites in basal ganglia correlated significantly with both TIMP and 10 item motor tests at term, while frontal white matter metabolites correlated with TIMP and 10 item tests at 12 weeks and Bayley motor scores.
Conclusion:
A short motor skill assessment may be representative of a longer standardized test and relate to brain metabolic function in key areas for motor movement and development. Validation of a shortened assessment may improve early identification of high-risk preterm infants.
