Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 May 7;17(9):3258.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17093258.

Early Motor Trajectories Predict Motor but not Cognitive Function in Preterm- and Term-Born Adults without Pre-existing Neurological Conditions

Nicole Baumann  1 , James Tresilian  1 , Peter Bartmann  2 , Dieter Wolke  1   3
Affiliations

Early Motor Trajectories Predict Motor but not Cognitive Function in Preterm- and Term-Born Adults without Pre-existing Neurological Conditions

Nicole Baumann et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Very preterm (VP; <32 weeks gestation) and/or very low birth weight (VLBW; <1500 g) birth has been associated with an increased risk of adverse motor and cognitive outcomes that may persist into adulthood. The aim of this study was to determine whether motor development in the first five years of life is associated with motor and cognitive outcomes in adulthood. A prospective observational study in Germany followed 260 VP/VLBW and 229 term-born individuals from birth into adulthood. Early motor trajectories (i.e., high and low degree of motor difficulties) were determined from neurological examinations from birth to 56 months. Adult motor and cognitive outcomes were determined from information from multiple instruments and IQ tests, respectively. Associations of VP/VLBW birth and early motor difficulties on adult outcomes were assessed using regression analyses. VP/VLBW individuals had an increased risk for early motor difficulties (Relative Risk: 11.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.28, 32.35). Early motor difficulties were associated with poorer motor competence in adulthood (β = 0.22, p < 0.001), independent of VP/VLBW birth. Adult IQ was predicted by VP/VLBW (β = -0.12, p < 0.05) and child IQ (β = 0.51, p < 0.001), while early motor difficulties ceased to be associated with adult IQ once participants with a neurological impairment were excluded (β = 0.02, p > 0.05). Motor problems in childhood were homotypically associated with poorer motor competence in adulthood. Similarly, early cognitive problems were homotypically associated with adult cognitive outcomes. Thus, both motor and cognitive function should be assessed in routine follow-up during childhood.

Keywords: IQ; adulthood; cognitive function; longitudinal studies; motor development; preterm birth.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Eligible sample of very preterm and/or very low birth weight (VP/VLBW) and term control participants at age 26 years.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Structural equation model showing direct and indirect effects of VP/VLBW and early motor trajectories (difficulties) on motor competence and IQ at 26 years (Model 1). Bold lines represent hypothesized effects, solid lines represent significant effects, and dashed lines represent non-significant effects (standardized regression coefficients β). Effects of interest are shown. Effects of covariates and error terms are not presented to enhance readability. For effects of confounds see Table 2.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Structural equation model showing direct and indirect effects of VP/VLBW and early motor trajectories (difficulties) on motor competence and IQ at 26 years (excluding participants with neurological impairment, Model 2). Bold lines represent hypothesized effects, solid lines represent significant effects, and dashed lines represent non-significant effects (standardized regression coefficients β). Effects of interest are shown. Effects of covariates and error terms are not presented to enhance readability. For effects of confounds see Table 3.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Allotey J., Zamora J., Cheong-See F., Kalidindi M., Arroyo-Manzano D., Asztalos E., van der Post J., Mol B.W., Moore D., Birtles D., et al. Cognitive, motor, behavioural and academic performances of children born preterm: A meta-analysis and systematic review involving 64 061 children. BJOG. 2018;125:16–25. doi: 10.1111/1471-0528.14832. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ream M.A., Lehwald L. Neurologic Consequences of Preterm Birth. Curr. Neurol. Rep. 2018;18:48. doi: 10.1007/s11910-018-0862-2. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Jaekel J., Scott M. Preterm and Low-Birth-Weight Birth. In: Donders J., Hunter S.J., editors. Neuropsychological Conditions across the Lifespan. Cambridge University Press; Cambridge, UK: 2018. p. 2201323.
    1. Goodman A., Joyce R., Smith J.P. The long shadow cast by childhood physical and mental problems on adult life. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2011;108:6032–6037. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1016970108. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. de Kieviet J.F., Piek J.P., Aarnoudse-Moens C.S., Oosterlaan J. Motor Development in Very Preterm and Very Low-Birth-Weight Children from Birth to Adolescence: A Meta-analysis. JAMA. 2009;302:2235–2242. doi: 10.1001/jama.2009.1708. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources