Gustaf Håkansson, Mimmi Eriksson Westblad, Maria Örtqvist, Ulrika Ådén, Mats Blennow, Peter Fransson
{"title":"Motor performance and higher associative cortical networks in adolescents with neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy treated with therapeutic hypothermia.","authors":"Gustaf Håkansson, Mimmi Eriksson Westblad, Maria Örtqvist, Ulrika Ådén, Mats Blennow, Peter Fransson","doi":"10.1111/dmcn.16371","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.16371","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To investigate the interaction between specialized motor networks and higher associative brain networks for motor performance in adolescents exposed to neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>In this prospective, population-based cohort study of children (n = 66) with neonatal HIE treated with therapeutic hypothermia, follow-up was performed at age 10 to 12 years with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and assessment of motor performance with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition (MABC-2). Brain-behaviour analysis was performed using statistical enrichment analysis and was compared to a control group (n = 43) using the McNemar test.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The final analysis included 35 children in the cohort with HIE (mean [SD] age at magnetic resonance imaging = 11 years 2 months [9 months]) and 21 children in the control cohort (10 years 2 months [8 months]). Motor performance (assessed with the MABC-2 total score and all subdomains) was reduced in the cohort with HIE compared to the controls and was significantly associated with several clusters of brain network connections. A significant group difference was found in the MABC-2 aiming and catching subdomain, which correlated with clusters of functional connectivity between the somatomotor and default mode networks in the cohort with HIE.</p><p><strong>Interpretation: </strong>Motor impairment after therapeutic hypothermia-treated neonatal HIE is connected to alternative neural processing between motor and cognitive networks.</p>","PeriodicalId":50587,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144369501","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Should developmental coordination disorder be diagnosed before the age of 5 years?","authors":"Marina M Schoemaker","doi":"10.1111/dmcn.16389","DOIUrl":"10.1111/dmcn.16389","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50587,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144337191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Antonella Cerchiari, Giorgia Biondo, Fausto Maria Fassari, Francesca Pizza, Carolina Giordani, Martina Falbo, Gessica Della Bella, Massimiliano Raponi, Marco Tofani
{"title":"The Pediatric Screening-Priority Evaluation Dysphagia: Validation of a new tool for screening swallowing disorders in infants and children.","authors":"Antonella Cerchiari, Giorgia Biondo, Fausto Maria Fassari, Francesca Pizza, Carolina Giordani, Martina Falbo, Gessica Della Bella, Massimiliano Raponi, Marco Tofani","doi":"10.1111/dmcn.16390","DOIUrl":"10.1111/dmcn.16390","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To assess the psychometric properties of the Pediatric Screening-Priority Evaluation Dysphagia (PS-PED), a novel 14-item, non-invasive tool for identifying dysphagia risk in infants and children.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Internal consistency and interrater reliability were evaluated using Cronbach's alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Concurrent validity was assessed by correlating PS-PED scores with the Penetration Aspiration Scale (PAS). Analysis of variance examined score differences across neurological and neuromuscular conditions, congenital and musculoskeletal abnormalities, cardiovascular disease, and genetic syndromes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves determined cut-offs for optimal sensitivity and specificity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The PS-PED was administered to 117 children (59 males and 58 females; mean age 6 years 8 months, SD 4 years 4 months), showing good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.716) and strong interrater reliability (ICC = 1). A positive correlation (0.765) was found with the PAS, with significant score differences among diagnostic groups. ROC analysis established cut-offs for two dysphagia risk levels.</p><p><strong>Interpretation: </strong>The PS-PED is a reliable, valid screening tool for dysphagia, facilitating early identification in infants and children across various medical conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":50587,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144340598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Amy De Roubaix, Griet Dewitte, Nina Vens, Franny Faes, Jill G Zwicker, Bernard Dan, Dominique Van de Velde, Herbert Roeyers, Lynn Bar-On, Hilde Van Waelvelde
{"title":"Motor, physical, and behavioural performance of 3- to 5-year-old children at risk of developmental coordination disorder: A longitudinal observational study.","authors":"Amy De Roubaix, Griet Dewitte, Nina Vens, Franny Faes, Jill G Zwicker, Bernard Dan, Dominique Van de Velde, Herbert Roeyers, Lynn Bar-On, Hilde Van Waelvelde","doi":"10.1111/dmcn.16370","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.16370","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To compare the motor, physical, and behavioural performance of children at risk of developmental coordination disorder (rDCD) and typically developing children at 3, 4, and 5 years of age.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>Following a longitudinal design, 35 mainly high-risk children identified as rDCD by a multidisciplinary team at a centre for developmental disabilities and 34 typically developing children participated. Children were assessed with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, Second Edition, Dutch/Belgian version (MABC-2-NL), Beery-Buktenica Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery VMI-6), Little Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire - Belgian version (LDCDQ-BE), Motor Skill Checklist, Functional Strength Measurement, body mass index, and Child Behavior Checklist. Linear mixed-model analyses compared performance between groups (rDCD and typically developing) and subgroups (confirmed and cleared DCD at 5 years).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Children with rDCD scored significantly worse on all outcomes at every time point compared with typically developing children, except for visual perception. Performance on the MABC-2-NL, Beery VMI-6 subtest motor coordination, and LDCDQ-BE was also consistently below average for those in the rDCD group. Performance across time points was stable in the rDCD group, with only a significant improvement in LDCDQ-BE. Children not diagnosed with DCD (n = 5) were mostly similar in performance to the typically developing group.</p><p><strong>Interpretation: </strong>Performance differences are present at 3 years in high-risk children at rDCD and tend to persist between 3 and 5 years.</p>","PeriodicalId":50587,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144327648","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Should the use of international guidelines for early detection of cerebral palsy be required for clinical trials?","authors":"Diane L Damiano","doi":"10.1111/dmcn.16348","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.16348","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50587,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144303518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Katherine A Benfer, Asis K Ghosh, Sayak Chowdhury, Golam Moula, Sandip Samanta, Pradip Maiti, Anjan Bhattacharya, Naila Zaman Khan, Koa Whittingham, Robert S Ware, Cathy Morgan, Sasaka Bandaranayake, Iona Novak, Roslyn N Boyd
{"title":"Early detection of infants with neurodevelopmental concerns indicative of cerebral palsy in a lower middle-income country (India).","authors":"Katherine A Benfer, Asis K Ghosh, Sayak Chowdhury, Golam Moula, Sandip Samanta, Pradip Maiti, Anjan Bhattacharya, Naila Zaman Khan, Koa Whittingham, Robert S Ware, Cathy Morgan, Sasaka Bandaranayake, Iona Novak, Roslyn N Boyd","doi":"10.1111/dmcn.16351","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.16351","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To determine reproducibility and diagnostic accuracy of screening tools for neuromotor concerns indicative of cerebral palsy (CP) at 18 months corrected age by using the General Movements Assessment (GMA) and/or Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination (HINE) in West Bengal, India.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This prospective substudy tested psychometrics of screening tools nested within an overarching randomized control trial. A total of 785 infants with birth/infant-detectable risk factors, aged 12 to 40 weeks corrected age (n = 422 male, mean corrected age 22.6 weeks, SD = 10.2), were recruited. Infants were screened for 'high-risk CP' using the GMA (absent/abnormal fidgety, 12-17 weeks corrected age) and/or HINE (3 months < 56, 6 months < 59, 9 months < 62, 18-40 weeks corrected age). 'Neuromotor concerns indicative of CP' were classified at 18 months corrected age by a physician from a videoed neurological examination and semi-structured movement protocol. We analysed the results (1) using Gwet's AC1 and (2) for sensitivity and specificity.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Interrater reproducibility was strong (Gwet's AC1 = 0.89, p < 0.001). A total of 165 out of 749 assessments were screened as 'high-risk CP' (22.0%; 95% confidence interval 19.2-25.1). The screening programme (GMA/HINE) was 80.1% accurate (GMA [only] sensitivity = 87.8%, specificity = 44.4%; HINE [only] sensitivity = 94.0%, specificity = 60.0%).</p><p><strong>Interpretation: </strong>The GMA and/or HINE are reliable and accurate tools for screening high-risk populations in India, and may be useful in other low- and middle-income countries to identify infants with neuromotor concerns indicative of CP who could be triaged to early intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":50587,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144303517","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Akwenda Intervention Program for cerebral palsy: Improving quality of life in rural Uganda.","authors":"Charles R Newton","doi":"10.1111/dmcn.16385","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.16385","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50587,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144295259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elizabeth Asige, Gillian Saloojee, Godfrey Wanjala, Carin Andrews, Lukia H Namaganda, Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige, Katherine Albus, Diane L Damiano, Hans Forssberg
{"title":"Impact of the Akwenda Intervention Program for cerebral palsy on caregiver-perceived burden, stress, and psychosocial functioning: A cluster-randomized trial in Uganda.","authors":"Elizabeth Asige, Gillian Saloojee, Godfrey Wanjala, Carin Andrews, Lukia H Namaganda, Angelina Kakooza-Mwesige, Katherine Albus, Diane L Damiano, Hans Forssberg","doi":"10.1111/dmcn.16368","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.16368","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To evaluate the effectiveness of the Akwenda Intervention Program in reducing subjective burden, stress, and the psychosocial and family functioning of caregivers of children with cerebral palsy (CP) in rural Uganda, and its relationship to child outcomes.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This was a cluster-randomized, controlled, single-blind study of 100 caregivers of children and young people with CP (aged 2-23 years; 48 females) assigned to an intervention or control group. The Zimbabwe Caregiver Challenges Scale (ZCCS) was used to measure caregiver burden, while the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) Family Impact Module was used to assess caregiver psychosocial and family functioning. Customized questionnaires and video protocols evaluated caregiver knowledge and skills. Data were analysed using t-tests and Pearson's rank correlation coefficients.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The ZCCS score decreased in the intervention group (p < 0.001) but increased in the control group, resulting in a large group difference (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = -3.2). The PedsQL total score (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.56) and the health-related quality of life (Cohen's d = 1.15) score and knowledge of CP increased more in the intervention group. Greater knowledge correlated with reduced ZCCS scores and improved health-related quality of life. The improvement in caregiver outcomes correlated with improved child functioning, activity, and participation.</p><p><strong>Interpretation: </strong>The Akwenda Intervention Program effectively reduced caregiver burden and stress, and improved psychosocial functioning. Improved knowledge of CP, peer support, and stigma reduction contributed to these improvements.</p>","PeriodicalId":50587,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144295261","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Children with severe cerebral palsy during the COVID-19 pandemic: The vulnerable tell us whether our interventions are working.","authors":"Nigel Paneth","doi":"10.1111/dmcn.16388","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.16388","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":50587,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144295260","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Georgia Stimpson, Lavinia Fanelli, Eleanor Conway, Emily Johnson, Beatrice Berti, Mariacristina Scoto, Francesco Muntoni, Eugenio Mercuri, Giovanni Baranello
{"title":"Bulbar function in children with spinal muscular atrophy type 1 treated with nusinersen.","authors":"Georgia Stimpson, Lavinia Fanelli, Eleanor Conway, Emily Johnson, Beatrice Berti, Mariacristina Scoto, Francesco Muntoni, Eugenio Mercuri, Giovanni Baranello","doi":"10.1111/dmcn.16387","DOIUrl":"10.1111/dmcn.16387","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>To describe bulbar function trajectories in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 1 treated with nusinersen in the UK and Italy.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>In two previously reported, retrospective, observational cohort studies, we observed the 2-year change in the Children's Eating and Drinking Ability Scale (CEDAS) (the revised and optimized version of the Paediatric Functional Oral Intake Scale [p-FOIS]) and Oral and Swallowing Ability Tool (OrSAT) in 44 patients treated on average at 8.3 months (interquartile range = 4.1-14.4 months), with data collected every 6 months from treatment initiation.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The Italian cohort had more participants in the 1b group (symptom onset >2 weeks and <3 months), while the UK had more participants in the 1c group (symptom onset <6 months). Over 2 years, the p-FOIS/CEDAS captured lack of bulbar improvement in the 1b group, with 40% displaying stability and 45% showing decline; in the 1c group, stability was captured (71%). OrSAT captured improvement in 47% of the 1b group and 43% of the 1c group at 2 years; this was predominantly because of age-related speech acquisition and feeding viscosities, where the item was not age-appropriate at baseline.</p><p><strong>Interpretation: </strong>The p-FOIS/CEDAS and OrSAT measures capture complementary information on the effect of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) on bulbar function. Further studies are required to understand bulbar function trajectories in symptomatic and presymptomatic cohorts with SMA receiving different DMTs.</p>","PeriodicalId":50587,"journal":{"name":"Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144287017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}