Motor activity at age one year does not predict ADHD at seven years.
We have examined the predictive utility of motor activity in infancy towards diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in later childhood. We conducted a nested case-control study using videos of infants in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Sixty videos of children who received any Development and Well-being Assessment (DAWBA) psychiatric diagnosis at age 91 months (including 16 with ADHD) plus two controls per case were selected for data analysis. Body movements were measured at age one year: associations between motor activity-derived variables using factor analysis, and later ADHD diagnoses were sought. No significant association was found between infant motor activity and later ADHD. A positive association between motor activity and inattentive ADHD was found in males. Motor activity at age one year did not predict ADHD at age seven years. The positive association with inattentive ADHD in males requires further investigation.
Robertson Centre for Biostatistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Paul
P
Johnson
Boolang
B
Ahamat
Alex
A
McConnachie
Christine
C
Puckering
Helen
H
Marwick
Daniel
D
Furnivall
Robbie
R
Marwick
Christopher
C
Gillberg
Jon
J
Heron
Philip
P
Wilson
D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; early identification; infant mental health; motor development