Early motor signs of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders
• Pediatric neurology
• Developmental psychology

Background:

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder with early childhood onset.
• Initial symptoms like language and motor delays can manifest in infancy.
• Early identification of ADHD risk factors is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review published evidence on early motor signs in children who later exhibit ADHD symptoms or diagnosis.
• To assess the potential of early motor markers for predicting ADHD.
• To evaluate the clinical utility of early motor signs in ADHD screening.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed and PsycInfo databases for relevant cohort studies.
• Inclusion criteria: studies reporting on early motor function, infant assessment by 12 months, and later ADHD diagnosis.
• Analysis of nine eligible cohort studies examining motor signs and ADHD outcomes.

Main Results:

• Limited evidence suggests an association between mild early neurological markers and later developmental coordination disorder or motor overflow movements.
• Small sample sizes and group-focused reporting in included studies limit the strength of observed associations.
• Early motor indicators for ADHD appear non-specific, hindering their use in current clinical screening.

Conclusions:

• Early motor signs in children may be associated with later ADHD, but are not specific enough for reliable clinical screening.
• Spontaneous motility shows promise as a potential measure for early ADHD detection.
• Further large-scale cohort studies are recommended to establish the clinical role of early motor indicators in at-risk children.