Citation

Pasini A, D'Agati E, Pitzianti M, Casarelli L, Curatolo P. Acta Paediatr. 2012; 101(1): e15-8.

Affiliation

Department of Neuroscience, Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, "Tor Vergata" University of Rome, Italy.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1651-2227.2011.02436.x

PMID

21824190

Abstract

Aim:  Evaluating if motor skills could differentiate drug-naive subjects with two neurodevelopmental disorders: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and Asperger syndrome. Methods:  36 boys (12 with Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, 12 with Asperger syndrome, and 12 with typical development) aged 8-12, were evaluated using the Physical and Neurological Examination for Subtle Signs. Three primary outcome variables were obtained: 1) total speed of timed activities, 2) total overflow, and 3) total dysrhythmia. Results:  Children with Asperger syndrome performed more slowly than those with Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and healthy children independently of age and IQ. Total dysrhythmia differentiates Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and Asperger syndrome children from controls. Conclusion:  Dysfunction of the fronto-striatal-cerebellar networks related to motor control could be the physiopathological basis of the reported findings.

Language: en