Do kids with DCD have different cerebellar structure?
In 46 children (34 DCD, 12 TD), VBM found reduced grey matter in brainstem and several cerebellar lobules, and lower volumes tracked worse MABC-2 motor scores.
Source
Cerebellar and brainstem differences in children with developmental coordination disorder: A voxel-based morphometry study
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Do kids with DCD have different cerebellar structure?
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46 children were scanned (12 TD, 34 DCD).
Forty-six children (12 typically-developing and 34 with DCD) were investigated using high resolution T1-weighted images, which were then processed using the spatially unbiased atlas template of the cerebellum and brainstem (SUIT) toolbox for a region of interest-based examination of the cerebellum.
DCD affects ~450,000 Canadian children.
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects ∼450,000 Canadian children, or roughly 1-to-2 children in every classroom ( American Psychiatric Association, 2013 ; Statistics Canada, 2020 ).
What they did
Acquired high-resolution T1 scans in 8–12-year-olds and analysed cerebellum/brainstem with the SUIT toolbox, then correlated regional volumes with Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 scores.
What they found
DCD showed reduced grey matter in brainstem, crus I (bilateral), right crus II, left VI, right VIIb, and right VIIIa. Positive correlations linked higher MABC-2 percentiles with greater volume in brainstem, left crus I, right VIIb, and right VIIIa.
The limits
What it doesn't show
Cross-sectional morphometry cannot prove that volume loss causes DCD; unequal group sizes and comorbidity (e.g., ADHD symptoms) limit causal inference.
Key terms
- DCD
- Developmental coordination disorder impairing motor skill learning and daily activities.
- Voxel-based morphometry
- MRI analysis comparing regional grey-matter volume across participants.
- SUIT
- Spatially unbiased atlas template toolbox for cerebellum and brainstem.
- MABC-2
- Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 motor percentile scores.
- Crus I/II
- Posterior cerebellar lobules implicated in motor/cognitive networks.
- Internal models
- Cerebellar computations thought to support predicting and refining movement.
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How many children were imaged?
Common questions
Sample composition?
46 children: 12 typically developing and 34 with DCD.
Age range?
8–12 years.
Where was grey matter reduced?
Brainstem and several cerebellar lobules including crus I/II and VI/VIIb/VIIIa regions.
Did volume relate to motor skill?
Yes—higher MABC-2 scores correlated with greater volume in affected regions.