%0 Journal Article
%T A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Associations Between Motor Milestone Timing and Motor Development in Neurodevelopmental Conditions.
%A Bowler A
%A Arichi T
%A Austerberry C
%A Fearon P
%A Ronald A
%J Neurosci Biobehav Rev
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Jul 25
%M 39067834
%F 9.052
%R 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105825
%X Early motor skills may be important early markers of neurodevelopmental conditions or predictors of their later onset. To explore this, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of infant motor skill assessments in those who go on to gain a clinical diagnosis of autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), schizophrenia, language conditions, tic disorders, or developmental coordination disorder (DCD). In total, 65 articles met inclusion criteria. Three three-level meta-analyses were run. Meta-analysis of milestone achievement in N=21354 individuals revealed gross motor milestones were significantly delayed compared to controls (g= 0.53, p< 0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed autism (g= 0.63) and DCD (g= 0.53) had the highest magnitude delays. Specific delays were revealed for holding the head up (g= 0.21), sitting (g= 0.28), standing (g= 0.35), crawling (g=0.19), and walking (g= 0.71). Meta-analyses of standardised motor skill measurements in N=1976 individuals revealed reduced performance compared to controls in autism and language conditions (g= -0.54, p< 0.001). Together, these findings demonstrate delayed milestone attainment and motor impairments in early childhood in neurodevelopmental conditions.