Brain functional connectivity in children with developmental coordination disorder following rehabilitation intervention.
Sara Izadi-NajafabadiShie RinatJill G ZwickerPublished in: Pediatric research (2021)
This study provides neuroscientific evidence for the Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance (CO-OP) approach as an effective rehabilitation intervention to induce brain and behavioral changes in children with DCD. While children with DCD ± ADHD showed improved motor function after CO-OP, only children with DCD showed brain changes after intervention. Children with DCD showed increased functional connectivity in networks associated with self-, emotion-, and attention-regulation after the intervention. Treatment modifications may be required to induce similar brain changes in children with DCD + ADHD. Pediatricians are encouraged to refer children with DCD with and without ADHD for CO-OP intervention to improve their motor skills.