Grant: CIHR New Investigator

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is a common condition that affects 5-6% of school-aged children, or 1-2 children in every Canadian classroom. Children with DCD find it hard to learn motor skills and perform everyday activities, such as getting dressed, tying shoelaces, using a fork and knife, printing, riding a bicycle, or playing sports. Children with DCD often feel lonely, depressed or anxious, and may have low self-esteem and problems with peers. They also tend to avoid physical and social activities, which further affects their friendships. DCD is a life-long condition that affects school performance, vocational choices, and leisure activities. Up to 50% of children with DCD will also have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which further compounds the difficulties that these children face in daily life. We do not know what causes DCD, but we think there are differences in brain development and brain function in children with DCD compared to typical children. Our previous studies have shown that children with DCD use different brain areas to perform and learn motor skills compared to typically-developing children. Having a better understanding of other brain differences will help to explain why children with DCD struggle to learn motor skills. We can then determine if we can change the brain and improve motor skills through rehabilitation. In this study, we will use MRI to compare images of children's brains to accomplish two goals: (1) determine how the brain differs in children with DCD and children with DCD+ADHD compared to typically-developing children; (2) determine if rehabilitation can change the brain and improve motor function of children with DCD+/-ADHD. This study is the first of its kind and will advance our understanding of DCD and hopefully improve outcomes of affected children. Findings will provide evidence for current treatment approaches or offer insight into developing alternate interventions.