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This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of botulinum toxin (BTX) injections for managing motor disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). An electronic search was conducted based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Data from available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing BTX injections for motor disorders in PD patients were extracted for meta‐analysis. Ultimately, 215 patients from eight RCTs were enrolled. Pooled analyses indicated that BTX was more effective than placebo in improving tremor (standardized mean difference [SMD] = 0.96, 95% CI [0.34, 1.58], p < 0.01), whereas no notable differences were observed between BTX and placebo regarding freezing of gait (SMD = 0.66, 95% CI [−0.26, 1.58], p = 0.162), United Parkinson's Disease Rate Scale (UPDRS) III score (SMD = −0.20, 95% CI [−1.17, 0.76], p = 0.68) and clinical global impression (CGI) score (SMD = 0.84, 95% CI [−0.74, 2.42], p = 0.298). Adverse events related to BTX injections were comparable to placebo (OR = 1.74, 95% CI [0.59, 5.14], p = 0.32). The current evidence suggests that BTX is effective and safe in treating PD tremor but fails to provide therapeutic benefits for freezing of gait and motor functional scores in PD patients. Furthermore, the limited number of included studies and heterogeneity in BTX intervention protocols suggest more research is needed, with additional standardized RCTs, to better understand and optimize BTX injections for motor disorders in PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: FNDs mimicking a stroke represent a growing challenge in the emergency department (ED). A comprehensive diagnostic approach involving clinical evaluation and neuroimaging is essential to differentiate stroke from mimics. The safety profile of thrombolysis justifies its use where FNDs cannot be ruled out. This approach highlights the need for more precise diagnostic tools and protocols to improve patient care and reduce unnecessary treatments. Distinguishing FNDs from actual cerebrovascular events is critical yet difficult, particularly under time constraints. Given the urgency and potential severity of strokes, intravenous thrombolysis is frequently administered even when FNDs cannot be definitively excluded. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data of participants admitted to the Trieste University Hospital Stroke Unit between January 2018 and December 2022, focusing on those presenting with sudden-onset focal neurological deficits mimicking a stroke, with some presenting within the reperfusion treatment window (<4.5 h from symptoms onset). We obtained detailed clinical evaluations and neuroimaging, and administered thrombolytic therapy in selected cases. Results and discussion: We included 84 participants presenting with stroke mimics (average age of 45 yo) predominantly female (65.5%). Most common presentations: hemiparesis or hemisensory loss (75%), speech disorder (10.7%), vertigo/gait disorders (4.8%). History of psychiatric disorders was found in 32.1% of cases, and 48.8% had prior neurological disease or stroke risk factors. Advanced neuroimaging was performed in 43 cases yielding normal or nonspecific results. Thrombolysis was safely administered in 31%. Patients mostly recovered within the first 24 h from admission (44.7%). We compared this FND's sample with 291 patients with mild ischemic stroke (NIHSS ≤7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) is a widely used parent questionnaire for screening motor coordination disorders in children aged 5–15 years. Despite increasing motor difficulties in children, a validated version is lacking in Central Europe. In addition, previous studies pointed out that several DCDQ items were shown to be problematic in different cultural environments. We found that the majority of these studies did not assess the item's content validity approach for keeping the semantic form and linguistic intelligibility of the original items. Therefore, this study aimed to translate the DCDQ, determine the content validity of items, and adapt the DCDQ for Czech children aged 6–10 years, where the identification of motor difficulties is crucial. Back-translation was employed, and face validity was consulted with linguistic experts and occupational therapists. A sample of 25 bilingual parents and practitioners evaluated the translated version, with content validity assessed using the Content Validity Ratio coefficient (CVR). Initial CVR scores ranged from 0.6 to 1.0. Lower scores were found for items 14 and 15, which were shown to be problematic in previous studies. The reason for the lower content validity in these items was due to double negation. Following linguistic modifications, the CVR values improved (range: 0.87–1.0), indicating content and semantic stability. Our findings underscore the importance of considering content validity and language specificity, including issues like double negation, during cross-cultural questionnaire validation to mitigate potential psychometric concerns in the future. The adapted Czech version exhibits significant content validity, thereby warranting further validation of its psychometric properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundFNDs mimicking a stroke represent a growing challenge in the emergency department (ED). A comprehensive diagnostic approach involving clinical evaluation and neuroimaging is essential to differentiate stroke from mimics. The safety profile of thrombolysis justifies its use where FNDs cannot be ruled out. This approach highlights the need for more precise diagnostic tools and protocols to improve patient care and reduce unnecessary treatments. Distinguishing FNDs from actual cerebrovascular events is critical yet difficult, particularly under time constraints. Given the urgency and potential severity of strokes, intravenous thrombolysis is frequently administered even when FNDs cannot be definitively excluded.MethodsThis retrospective study analyzed data of participants admitted to the Trieste University Hospital Stroke Unit between January 2018 and December 2022, focusing on those presenting with sudden-onset focal neurological deficits mimicking a stroke, with some presenting within the reperfusion treatment window (

Dexterous postural control subtly complements movement variability with sensory correlations at many scales. The expressive poise of gymnasts exemplifies this lyrical punctuation of release with constraint, from coarse grain to fine scales. Dexterous postural control upon a 2D support surface might collapse the variation of center of pressure (CoP) to a relatively 1D orientation—a direction often oriented towards the focal point of a visual task. Sensory corrections in dexterous postural control might manifest in temporal correlations, specifically as fractional Brownian motions whose differences are more and less correlated with fractional Gaussian noises (fGns) with progressively larger and smaller Hurst exponent H. Traditional empirical work examines this arrangement of lower-dimensional compression of CoP along two orthogonal axes, anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML). Eyes-open and face-forward orientations cultivate greater variability along AP than ML axes, and the orthogonal distribution of spatial variability has so far gone hand in hand with an orthogonal distribution of H, for example, larger in AP and lower in ML. However, perturbing the orientation of task focus might destabilize the postural synergy away from its 1D distribution and homogenize the temporal correlations across the 2D support surface, resulting in narrower angles between the directions of the largest and smallest H. We used oriented fractal scaling component analysis (OFSCA) to investigate whether sensory corrections in postural control might thus become suborthogonal. OFSCA models raw 2D CoP trajectory by decomposing it in all directions along the 2D support surface and fits the directions with the largest and smallest H. We studied a sample of gymnasts in eyes-open and face-forward quiet posture, and results from OFSCA confirm that such posture exhibits the classic orthogonal distribution of temporal correlations. Head-turning resulted in a simultaneous decrease in this angle Δθ, which promptly reversed once gymnasts reoriented their heads forward. However, when vision was absent, there was only a discernible negative trend in Δθ, indicating a shift in the angle’s direction but not a statistically significant one. Thus, the narrowing of Δθ may signify an adaptive strategy in postural control. The swift recovery of Δθ upon returning to a forward-facing posture suggests that the temporary reduction is specific to head-turning and does not impose a lasting burden on postural control. Turning the head reduced the angle between these two orientations, facilitating the release of postural degrees of freedom towards a more uniform spread of the CoP across both dimensions of the support surface. The innovative aspect of this work is that it shows how fractality might serve as a control parameter of adaptive mechanisms of dexterous postural control.

Objective: Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) encephalitis is such a rare type of autoimmune encephalitis that its diagnosis remains a challenge. Case report: A 19-year-old female patient initially presented with anxiety and orthostatic leg tremors without cortical dysfunction. We found that this patient was positive for mGluR5 antibodies in both serum(1:1,000) and cerebrospinal fluid (1:32). After comprehensive intervention, the patient showed complete recovery at the 18-month follow-up. Discussion: This report expands our knowledge of the possible presentations of mGluR5 encephalitis for early diagnosis, which makes it possible to prevent serious consequences and improve the prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals with Parkinson’s disease exhibit tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia, disrupting normal movement variability and resulting in postural instability. This comprehensive study aimed to investigate the link between the temporal structure of postural sway variability and Parkinsonism by analyzing multiple datasets from young and older adults, including individuals with Parkinson’s disease, across various task conditions. We used the Oriented Fractal Scaling Component Analysis (OFSCA), which identifies minimal and maximal long-range correlations within the center of pressure time series, allowing for detecting directional changes in postural sway variability. The objective was to uncover the primary directions along which individuals exerted control during the posture. The results, as anticipated, revealed that healthy adults predominantly exerted control along two orthogonal directions, closely aligned with the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) axes. In stark contrast, older adults and individuals with Parkinson’s disease exhibited control along suborthogonal directions that notably diverged from the AP and ML axes. While older adults and those with Parkinson’s disease demonstrated a similar reduction in the angle between these two control directions compared to healthy older adults, their reliance on this suborthogonal angle concerning endogenous fractal correlations exhibited significant differences from the healthy aging cohort. Importantly, individuals with Parkinson’s disease did not manifest the sensitivity to destabilizing task settings observed in their healthy counterparts, affirming the distinction between Parkinson’s disease and healthy aging.

The Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire (DCDQ) is a widely used parent questionnaire for screening motor coordination disorders in children aged 5–15 years. Despite increasing motor difficulties in children, a validated version is lacking in Central Europe. In addition, previous studies pointed out that several DCDQ items were shown to be problematic in different cultural environments. We found that the majority of these studies did not assess the item’s content validity approach for keeping the semantic form and linguistic intelligibility of the original items. Therefore, this study aimed to translate the DCDQ, determine the content validity of items, and adapt the DCDQ for Czech children aged 6–10 years, where the identification of motor difficulties is crucial. Back-translation was employed, and face validity was consulted with linguistic experts and occupational therapists. A sample of 25 bilingual parents and practitioners evaluated the translated version, with content validity assessed using the Content Validity Ratio coefficient (CVR). Initial CVR scores ranged from 0.6 to 1.0. Lower scores were found for items 14 and 15, which were shown to be problematic in previous studies. The reason for the lower content validity in these items was due to double negation. Following linguistic modifications, the CVR values improved (range: 0.87–1.0), indicating content and semantic stability. Our findings underscore the importance of considering content validity and language specificity, including issues like double negation, during cross-cultural questionnaire validation to mitigate potential psychometric concerns in the future. The adapted Czech version exhibits significant content validity, thereby warranting further validation of its psychometric properties.

1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mice model is one of the most common animal models for Parkinson's disease (PD). It is classified into three types: acute, subacute, and chronic intoxication models. The subacute model has attracted much attention for its short period and similarity to PD. However, whether subacute MPTP intoxication in mouse mimics the movement and cognitive disorders of PD still remains highly controversial. Therefore, the present study reassessed the behavioral performances of subacute MPTP intoxication in mice using open field, rotarod, Y maze, and gait analysis at different time points (1, 7, 14, and 21 days) after modeling. Results of the current study showed that although MPTP-treated mice using subacute regimen showed severe dopaminergic neuronal loss and evident astrogliosis, they failed to display significant motor and cognitive deficits. Besides, expression of mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL), a marker of necroptosis, was also significantly increased in the ventral midbrain and striatum of MPTP-intoxicated mice. This evidently implies that necroptosis may play an important role in MPTP-induced neurodegeneration. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggest that subacute MPTP-intoxicated mice may not be a suitable model for studying parkinsonism. However, it can help in revealing the early pathophysiology of PD and studying the compensatory mechanisms which occur in early PD that prevent the emergence of behavioral deficits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an inherited tumor predisposition caused by mutations in the VHL tumor suppressor gene. Carriers of these mutations face a lifelong risk of developing multisystemic tumors. We present the case of a patient who at the age of 23 presented, following an insidious onset, symptoms of intracranial hypertension. Therapeutic and diagnostic surgical intervention put the stigma of a genetic pathology with permanent life impairment. The multiple surgeries undergone and the lack of early rehabilitation led to the significant impairment of the functional deficit through the appearance of paraparetic motor deficit, balance and walking disorders. The periodic functional evaluation is carried out in the Rehabilitation Hospital of Techirghiol Romania, where he is hospitalized and receives complex treatments by combining natural and physical-kinetic factors. For the last 30 years, significant changes have been made regarding the clinical characteristics and molecular aspects of VHL disease and early genetic diagnosis, but significant challenges remain. The complex multidisciplinary approach of these cases represents a priority in treating these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children and adolescents with disabilities engage in low levels of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), which may create the onset of a sedentary lifestyle. In light of this, MVPA levels must be quantified with a valid tool such as accelerometry. This study aimed to: (i) analyze the accuracy of Evenson cut-points by estimating MVPA and sedentary behavior (SB) in children and adolescents with disabilities; (ii) define new equations to estimate energy expenditure (EE) with the GT3X+ accelerometer in this population and particularly in those with cerebral palsy (CP); (iii) define specific GT3X+ cut-points to estimate MVPA in those with CP. Methods: A total of 23 children and adolescents with disabilities (10 ± 3 years; 44%females) participated in the study. GT3X+-counts and oxygen uptake (VO2) were measured in four laboratory walking conditions. Results: (i) Evenson cut-points were accurate; (ii) new equations were defined to effectively predict EE; (iii) specific GT3X+ cut-points (VM ≥ 702 counts·min−1; Y-Axis ≥ 360 counts·min−1) were defined for estimating MVPA levels in children and adolescents with CP. Conclusions: The use of specific cut-points for ActiGraph GT3X+ seems to be accurate to estimate MVPA levels in children and adolescents with disabilities and, particularly, in those with CP, at least in laboratory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given humans' ubiquitous visual experience of their own body, one reasonable assumption is that one's perceptions of the lengths of their body parts should be accurate. However, recent research has shown that large systematic distortions of the length of body parts are present in healthy younger adults. These distortions appear to be linked to tactile sensitivity such that individuals overestimate the length of body parts of low tactile sensitivity to a greater extent than body parts of high tactile sensitivity. There are certain conditions featuring reduced tactile sensitivity, such as Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy older ageing. However, the effect of these circumstances on individuals' perceptions of the lengths of their body parts remains unknown. In this study, participants visually estimated the length of their body parts using their hand as a metric. We show that despite the reductions in tactile sensitivity, and potential alterations in the cortical presentation of body parts that may occur in PD and healthy older ageing, individuals with mild-moderate PD and older adults of comparable age experience body size distortions comparable to healthy younger controls. These findings demonstrate that the ability to perceive the length of one's body parts is well preserved in mild-moderate PD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Holmes tremor (HT) is a rare motor disorder characterized by high-amplitude and low-frequency resting, intentional, and postural tremors. HT typically arises from disruptions in neural pathways, including the dopaminergic system. Its causes include cerebrovascular incidents, neoplasms, demyelination, and infections. Diagnosis involves thorough clinical, neurophysiological, and neuroimaging assessments. Our report details the clinical profile, neuroimaging and EEG results and levodopa treatment response of an HT patient after cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) surgery. Case Report: A female patient who underwent AVM surgery developed head tremor and dystonia. Neuroimaging revealed left thalamus involvement. Video electroencephalography (EEG) revealed high-amplitude, low-frequency tremors. The patient responded well to levodopa treatment. Conclusions: Involuntary rhythmic or non-rhythmic movements are a primary clinical feature of HT. A differential diagnosis of epilepsy and HT can be achieved through neurophysiological monitoring, avoiding the overuse of antiepileptic drugs. Symptoms can be alleviated with levodopa intervention., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

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, 63 articles met inclusion criteria. Three three-level meta-analyses were run. Meta-analysis of milestone achievement in N= 21205 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., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Aim: Motor impairments are frequent both at and before diagnosis. In childhood, impairments in general fine and gross motor function are among others identified using test batteries, and while elements of coordination are assessed in onset schizophrenia, the assessment of general motor functions is absent. Thus, we aimed to assess general motor function including childhood motor function in adolescents with schizophrenia in comparison with healthy controls and examine clinical correlates to general motor function. Method: General fine and gross motor function was assessed using two standardized age‐normed test batteries and a questionnaire in 25 adolescents with schizophrenia compared with age and gender‐matched controls using t‐test and χ2‐test. Stepwise linear regression assessed potential developmental predictors on motor function including complications during childbirth, reported childhood motor function, executive function including false discovery rate q‐values. Associations with schizophrenia symptom severity, executive function, cognitive function were assessed using Pearson's correlation and the impact of antipsychotic medication using t‐test. Result: All measures of motor function but one significantly differentiated adolescents with schizophrenia from healthy controls. The presence of schizophrenia (β =4.41, β = 10.96), explained the main part of the variance however, childhood motor function (β =.08) also added significantly to motor function. Executive function (β = −.45) was important for childhood motor function. Severity of schizophrenia was associated with strength (p <.0011) and manual coordination (p =.0295), and receiving antipsychotics affected manual dexterity (p =.0378). Conclusion: The documentation of significant differences in general motor function in early onset schizophrenia compared with healthy controls highlights the need for general motor assessments and potential interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a kind of common neurodegenerative disease in the world. Previous studies have proved that nervonic acid (NA), extracted from Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge, has the potentials of neuroprotection. However, the effect of NA on the PD remained unknown. This study was designed to investigate the NA’s potential function and relative mechanism on motor disorder.

BackgroundFragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome is an adult-onset disorder associated with premutation alleles of the FMR1 gene. This disorder is characterized by progressive action tremor, gait ataxia, and cognitive decline. Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome pathology includes dystrophic white matter and intranuclear inclusions in neurons and astrocytes. We previously demonstrated that the transport of iron into the brain is altered in fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome; therefore, we also expect an alteration of iron metabolism in brain areas related to motor control. Iron is essential for cell metabolism, but uncomplexed iron leads to oxidative stress and contributes to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. We investigated a potential iron modification in the putamen - a structure that participates in motor learning and performance - in fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome.MethodsWe used samples of putamen obtained from 9 fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome and 9 control cases to study iron localization using Perl's method, and iron-binding proteins using immunostaining.ResultsWe found increased iron deposition in neuronal and glial cells in the putamen in fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. We also found a generalized decrease in the amount of the iron-binding proteins transferrin and ceruloplasmin, and decreased number of neurons and glial cells that contained ceruloplasmin. However, we found increased levels of iron, transferrin, and ceruloplasmin in microglial cells, indicating an attempt by the immune system to remove the excess iron.ConclusionsOverall, found a deficit in proteins that eliminate extra iron from the cells with a concomitant increase in the deposit of cellular iron in the putamen in Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome. © 2017 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Background: Children and adolescents with disabilities engage in low levels of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA), which may create the onset of a sedentary lifestyle. In light of this, MVPA levels must be quantified with a valid tool such as accelerometry. This study aimed to: (i) analyze the accuracy of Evenson cut-points by estimating MVPA and sedentary behavior (SB) in children and adolescents with disabilities; (ii) define new equations to estimate energy expenditure (EE) with the GT3X+ accelerometer in this population and particularly in those with cerebral palsy (CP); (iii) define specific GT3X+ cut-points to estimate MVPA in those with CP. Methods: A total of 23 children and adolescents with disabilities (10 ± 3 years; 44%females) participated in the study. GT3X+-counts and oxygen uptake (VO2) were measured in four laboratory walking conditions. Results: (i) Evenson cut-points were accurate; (ii) new equations were defined to effectively predict EE; (iii) specific GT3X+ cut-points (VM ≥ 702 counts·min−1; Y-Axis ≥ 360 counts·min−1) were defined for estimating MVPA levels in children and adolescents with CP. Conclusions: The use of specific cut-points for ActiGraph GT3X+ seems to be accurate to estimate MVPA levels in children and adolescents with disabilities and, particularly, in those with CP, at least in laboratory conditions.

Aim of study: While Lewy body diseases (LBDs, comprising Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies) and white matter diseases (WMD) coexist pathologically, it is uncertain to what extent each disease and the combination of the two manifests clinically, particularly regarding gait disorders. To answer this question, we performed neuroimaging‐assisted analysis. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study (215 patients with gait, cognitive, or sleep‐autonomic disorders who were referred to our department within a 2‐year period). The inclusion criteria were apparent gait disorder; age >65 years; WMD observed on MRI; and LBD observed on both DAT and MIBG for clarity. Results: We had 39 patients with LBD; 31 with WMD; and 52 with dual diseases. The types of motor disorder in LBD varied (purely akinetic, akineto‐rigid, and tremor forms), whereas in WMD it was purely akinetic with a wide‐based gait. Those with dual diseases showed a clinical combination of the two. Cognitive disorders of LBD‐only and of dual diseases were more severe than WMD only. Sleep disorder and postural hypotension occurred only in LBD‐only and in dual diseases; constipation was common in LBD and dual groups. However, none of the differences reached statistical significance. Conclusion: Among the patients, 23%‐50% of LBD and those of dual diseases had the purely akinetic form, which might be indistinguishable from WMD. In such cases, additional motor (subtle upper‐half akinesia, abnormal posture) and nonmotor (cognitive‐sleep‐autonomic) signatures may help in diagnosing (comorbid) LBD cases that require treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Improvement of neurological disorders in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) remains an important issue worldwide. This study aimed to explore the outcomes and complications of patients with incomplete SCI in the thoracolumbar region within one year after trauma. Methods and Materials/Patients: In this longitudinal prospective study, patients with traumatic incomplete SCI were studied. The demographic and clinical variables including age, sex, site of injury, motor force, sensory disorder, and sphincter dysfunction were recorded on admission and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after discharge. SPSS software, version 28 was used for data analysis. Results: Out of 120 patients with incomplete SCI, 100 patients were included. The mean age of the participants was 32.39±7.47 years and the mean duration of hospitalization was 14.78±3.81 days. The most common injury site was T12-L1 (43%). Over time, the average motor force of patients increased. The lowest and highest averages were observed during hospitalization and 12 months after discharge, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the paired comparison of motor force at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after discharge. The frequency of sensory disorders decreased over time. The highest and lowest frequencies belonged to the hospitalization time (81%) and 12 months after discharge (9%). No significant difference was observed between the time intervals of 6, 9, and 12 months, as well as the time of hospitalization and discharge. Over time, the frequency of sphincter dysfunction decreased. Pulmonary infection (12%) and bed sores (9%) were the complications observed during hospitalization. Complications observed 12 months after admission were bed sores (21%) and venous thrombosis (17%). Conclusion: The highest recovery rate of motor force was recorded within the first three months. The frequency of sensory and sphincter disturbances in patients decreased over time with the highest recovery rate during the first six months after the injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Improvement of neurological disorders in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI) remains an important issue worldwide. This study aimed to explore the outcomes and complications of patients with incomplete SCI in the thoracolumbar region within one year after trauma. Methods and Materials/Patients: In this longitudinal prospective study, patients with traumatic incomplete SCI were studied. The demographic and clinical variables including age, sex, site of injury, motor force, sensory disorder, and sphincter dysfunction were recorded on admission and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after discharge. SPSS software, version 28 was used for data analysis. Results: Out of 120 patients with incomplete SCI, 100 patients were included. The mean age of the participants was 32.39±7.47 years and the mean duration of hospitalization was 14.78±3.81 days. The most common injury site was T12-L1 (43%). Over time, the average motor force of patients increased. The lowest and highest averages were observed during hospitalization and 12 months after discharge, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the paired comparison of motor force at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after discharge. The frequency of sensory disorders decreased over time. The highest and lowest frequencies belonged to the hospitalization time (81%) and 12 months after discharge (9%). No significant difference was observed between the time intervals of 6, 9, and 12 months, as well as the time of hospitalization and discharge. Over time, the frequency of sphincter dysfunction decreased. Pulmonary infection (12%) and bed sores (9%) were the complications observed during hospitalization. Complications observed 12 months after admission were bed sores (21%) and venous thrombosis (17%). Conclusion: The highest recovery rate of motor force was recorded within the first three months. The frequency of sensory and sphincter disturbances in patients decreased over time with the highest recovery rate during the first six months after the injury.

Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) present lower abilities to acquire and execute coordinated motor skills. DCD is frequently associated with visual perceptual (with or without motor component) impairments. This magnetoencephalography (MEG) study compares the brain resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) and spectral power of children with and without DCD.29 children with DCD and 28 typically developing (TD) peers underwent 2 × 5 min of resting-state MEG. Band-limited power envelope correlation and spectral power were compared between groups using a functional connectome of 59 nodes from eight resting-state networks. Correlation coefficients were calculated between fine and gross motor activity, visual perceptual and visuomotor abilities measures on the one hand, and brain rsFC and spectral power on the other hand. Nonparametric statistics were used.Significantly higher rsFC between nodes of the visual, attentional, frontoparietal, default-mode and cerebellar networks was observed in the alpha (maximum statistics, p = .0012) and the low beta (p = .0002) bands in children with DCD compared to TD peers. Lower visuomotor performance (copying figures) was associated with stronger interhemispheric rsFC within sensorimotor areas and power in the cerebellum (right lobule VIII).Children with DCD showed increased rsFC mainly in the dorsal extrastriate visual brain system and the cerebellum. However, this increase was not associated with their coordinated motor/visual perceptual abilities. This enhanced functional brain connectivity could thus reflect a characteristic brain trait of children with DCD compared to their TD peers. Moreover, an interhemispheric compensatory process might be at play to perform visuomotor task within the normative range.

The neuromuscular junction (NMJ), a peripheral synaptic connection between motoneurons and skeletal muscle fibers, controls movement. Dysregulation of NMJs has been implicated in various motor disorders. Because of their large size and easy accessibility, NMJs have been extensively investigated in the neuroscience field and have greatly contributed to our understanding of the fundamental principles of synapses in the central nervous system. Researchers have tried multiple ways to develop models to recreate NMJs. Rapid progress in the research and development of tissue-like organoids has made it possible to produce human NMJ three-dimensional (3D) models in vitro , providing an additional powerful strategy to study NMJs. Here, we introduce the most recent advances of human embryonic stem cell- or induced pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids to model 3D NMJs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a kind of motor disorder, and the striatum plays a significant role in motor function. The purpose of this study was to explore the alterations of the cortical-striatal network in HFS using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods: The fMRI data of 30 adult patients with primary unilateral HFS (15 left-side and 15 right-side) and 30 healthy controls were collected. Six subregions of the striatum in each hemisphere were selected for functional connectivity (FC) analysis. One-sample t- test was used to analyze the intragroup FC of the HFS group and the control group. Two-sample t -test was used to compare the difference of FC between the two groups. The correlation between the abnormal FC and severity of HFS was evaluated by using the Spearman correlation analysis. Results: Compared with the controls, the striatal subregions had altered FC with motor and orbitofrontal cortex in patients with HFS. The altered FC between striatal subregions and motor cortex was correlated with the spasm severity in patients with HFS. Conclusion: The FC of the cortical-striatal network was altered in primary HFS, and these alterations were correlated with the severity of HFS. This study indicated that the cortical-striatal network may play different roles in the underlying pathological mechanism of HFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The coming of an unforeseen and hostile event such as the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about various changes in everyone's daily life. During the lockdown period, a huge number of restrictions were imposed, hence interrupting a wide range of activities previously proven to be necessary for some people. Due to the circumstances, rehabilitation treatments for children with neurodevelopmental disorders have been suspended, resulting in consequent distress for the children themselves and their parents. To overcome this problem, a tele-rehabilitation approach has proven to be an excellent solution to give continuity to children's rehabilitation. The tele-rehabilitation approach allows access to rehabilitation services directly from home. During lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System (VRRS) HomeKit, developed by Khymeia, was employed as a rehabilitation system for the treatment of posture and balance of an adolescent with disabilities for the first time ever. Specifically, a 17-year-old female patient was enrolled and evaluated by the clinical staff before and after the home-training sessions. The system was delivered to the patient's home so that she could perform the tasks in a familiar environment, while under the supervision of the clinical staff. Through a specific platform, using different modules of the system, therapists could remotely check that the proposed exercises were properly performed and provide feedback and/or increase the difficulty according to the patient's needs and progress. Therefore, the treatment performed was carried out at home in a personalized, intensive, and playful way; characteristics do not present in a traditional treatment. Our results are promising and demonstrate both the efficacy of rehabilitation exercises carried out at home and the feasibility of home-based rehabilitation, when using the VRRS HomeKit even with adolescents. The VRRS HomeKit presents some limitations, such as the need to have the line connection and free space at home, the presence of technical issues, and the education of parents and patients to understand the instructions. Despite the limitations, this study provides the basis for continuing the experience of tele-rehabilitation on patients with a motor disorder also by customizing the exercises to their characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Youths with severe and persistent irritability have a particularly high rate of school failures and learning difficulties. The aim of this study was to determine whether inpatient adolescents with Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) have more motor and/or language impairments compared to patients with other psychiatric disorders. A retrospective chart review of all consecutive cases admitted in two adolescent inpatient units between January 2017 and December 2018 was conducted (N = 191). All patients received multi-disciplinary clinical and developmental assessments. For a subtest of subjects, additional standardized tests were used to document motor and language impairments. In this clinical chart 53 adolescents with a DMDD (mean age 13.6 ± 1.5, min 12, max 16, 70% males) were compared to patients with a major depressive disorder (MDD, n = 64, mean age 15.3 ± 1.6, 52% males) and patients with a non-mood disorder (NMD, n = 61, mean age 14.4 ± 1.55, 59% males). Among inpatients with DMDD, 71% had an associated motor and/or language disorder, with combined forms in around two-thirds of cases. Compared to youths with MDD, participants with DMDD were more likely to have an associated developmental coordination disorder (67% vs. 22%, OR = 4.7) and a written language disorder (35% vs. 10%, OR = 4.6). While 31% of inpatients with DMDD had an associated communication/oral language disorder, this rate was not statistically different from those observed in the MDD group (11%, OR = 3.2). The frequencies of motor and language impairments were not statistically different between participants in the DMDD group and in the NMD group. The high rate of motor and written language disorders found in DMDD patients may partly account for their academic difficulties. Such finding, if confirmed, supports systematic screening of motor and written language impairments in youths with chronic irritability and suggests remediation potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ozel Egitim Dergisi is the property of Ankara University, Faculty of Educational Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The coming of an unforeseen and hostile event such as the COVID-19 pandemic has brought about various changes in everyone's daily life. During the lockdown period, a huge number of restrictions were imposed, hence interrupting a wide range of activities previously proven to be necessary for some people. Due to the circumstances, rehabilitation treatments for children with neurodevelopmental disorders have been suspended, resulting in consequent distress for the children themselves and their parents. To overcome this problem, a tele-rehabilitation approach has proven to be an excellent solution to give continuity to children's rehabilitation. The tele-rehabilitation approach allows access to rehabilitation services directly from home. During lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System (VRRS) HomeKit, developed by Khymeia, was employed as a rehabilitation system for the treatment of posture and balance of an adolescent with disabilities for the first time ever. Specifically, a 17-year-old female patient was enrolled and evaluated by the clinical staff before and after the home-training sessions. The system was delivered to the patient's home so that she could perform the tasks in a familiar environment, while under the supervision of the clinical staff. Through a specific platform, using different modules of the system, therapists could remotely check that the proposed exercises were properly performed and provide feedback and/or increase the difficulty according to the patient's needs and progress. Therefore, the treatment performed was carried out at home in a personalized, intensive, and playful way; characteristics do not present in a traditional treatment. Our results are promising and demonstrate both the efficacy of rehabilitation exercises carried out at home and the feasibility of home-based rehabilitation, when using the VRRS HomeKit even with adolescents. The VRRS HomeKit presents some limitations, such as the need to have the line connection and free space at home, the presence of technical issues, and the education of parents and patients to understand the instructions. Despite the limitations, this study provides the basis for continuing the experience of tele-rehabilitation on patients with a motor disorder also by customizing the exercises to their characteristics.

Objective: Hemifacial spasm (HFS) is a kind of motor disorder, and the striatum plays a significant role in motor function. The purpose of this study was to explore the alterations of the cortical-striatal network in HFS using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).Methods: The fMRI data of 30 adult patients with primary unilateral HFS (15 left-side and 15 right-side) and 30 healthy controls were collected. Six subregions of the striatum in each hemisphere were selected for functional connectivity (FC) analysis. One-sample t-test was used to analyze the intragroup FC of the HFS group and the control group. Two-sample t-test was used to compare the difference of FC between the two groups. The correlation between the abnormal FC and severity of HFS was evaluated by using the Spearman correlation analysis.Results: Compared with the controls, the striatal subregions had altered FC with motor and orbitofrontal cortex in patients with HFS. The altered FC between striatal subregions and motor cortex was correlated with the spasm severity in patients with HFS.Conclusion: The FC of the cortical-striatal network was altered in primary HFS, and these alterations were correlated with the severity of HFS. This study indicated that the cortical-striatal network may play different roles in the underlying pathological mechanism of HFS.

Dexterous postural control subtly complements movement variability with sensory correlations at many scales. The expressive poise of gymnasts exemplifies this lyrical punctuation of release with constraint, from coarse grain to fine scales. Dexterous postural control upon a 2D support surface might collapse the variation of center of pressure (CoP) to a relatively 1D orientation-a direction often oriented towards the focal point of a visual task. Sensory corrections in dexterous postural control might manifest in temporal correlations, specifically as fractional Brownian motions whose differences are more and less correlated with fractional Gaussian noises ( fGn s) with progressively larger and smaller Hurst exponent H . Traditional empirical work examines this arrangement of lower-dimensional compression of CoP along two orthogonal axes, anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML). Eyes-open and face-forward orientations cultivate greater variability along AP than ML axes, and the orthogonal distribution of spatial variability has so far gone hand in hand with an orthogonal distribution of H , for example, larger in AP and lower in ML. However, perturbing the orientation of task focus might destabilize the postural synergy away from its 1D distribution and homogenize the temporal correlations across the 2D support surface, resulting in narrower angles between the directions of the largest and smallest H . We used oriented fractal scaling component analysis (OFSCA) to investigate whether sensory corrections in postural control might thus become suborthogonal. OFSCA models raw 2D CoP trajectory by decomposing it in all directions along the 2D support surface and fits the directions with the largest and smallest H . We studied a sample of gymnasts in eyes-open and face-forward quiet posture, and results from OFSCA confirm that such posture exhibits the classic orthogonal distribution of temporal correlations. Head-turning resulted in a simultaneous decrease in this angle Δ θ , which promptly reversed once gymnasts reoriented their heads forward. However, when vision was absent, there was only a discernible negative trend in Δ θ , indicating a shift in the angle's direction but not a statistically significant one. Thus, the narrowing of Δ θ may signify an adaptive strategy in postural control. The swift recovery of Δ θ upon returning to a forward-facing posture suggests that the temporary reduction is specific to head-turning and does not impose a lasting burden on postural control. Turning the head reduced the angle between these two orientations, facilitating the release of postural degrees of freedom towards a more uniform spread of the CoP across both dimensions of the support surface. The innovative aspect of this work is that it shows how fractality might serve as a control parameter of adaptive mechanisms of dexterous postural control., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Mangalam, Seleznov, Kolosova, Popov, Kelty-Stephen and Kiyono.)

Individuals with Parkinson's disease exhibit tremors, rigidity, and bradykinesia, disrupting normal movement variability and resulting in postural instability. This comprehensive study aimed to investigate the link between the temporal structure of postural sway variability and Parkinsonism by analyzing multiple datasets from young and older adults, including individuals with Parkinson's disease, across various task conditions. We used the Oriented Fractal Scaling Component Analysis (OFSCA), which identifies minimal and maximal long-range correlations within the center of pressure time series, allowing for detecting directional changes in postural sway variability. The objective was to uncover the primary directions along which individuals exerted control during the posture. The results, as anticipated, revealed that healthy adults predominantly exerted control along two orthogonal directions, closely aligned with the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) axes. In stark contrast, older adults and individuals with Parkinson's disease exhibited control along suborthogonal directions that notably diverged from the AP and ML axes. While older adults and those with Parkinson's disease demonstrated a similar reduction in the angle between these two control directions compared to healthy older adults, their reliance on this suborthogonal angle concerning endogenous fractal correlations exhibited significant differences from the healthy aging cohort. Importantly, individuals with Parkinson's disease did not manifest the sensitivity to destabilizing task settings observed in their healthy counterparts, affirming the distinction between Parkinson's disease and healthy aging., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Objectives: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a kind of common neurodegenerative disease in the world. Previous studies have proved that nervonic acid (NA), extracted from Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge, has the potentials of neuroprotection. However, the effect of NA on the PD remained unknown. This study was designed to investigate the NA's potential function and relative mechanism on motor disorder. Methods: 1‑methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) was used for producing parkinsonism motor disorder on male C57BL/6 mice. Toxicity experiments and behavioral assay were performed to evaluate the effect of NA. Besides, the expression levels of tyrosine hydroxylase and α-synuclein, as well as striatal dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites were explored through immunoblotting and chromatography after NA treatment in vivo. Results: we found that NA could alleviate the MPTP-induced behavioral deficits dose-dependently. Moreover, NA has no toxic effects on the mouse liver and kidney. Of note, we found that NA significantly restored striatal dopamine, serotonin, and metabolites. In addition, tyrosine hydroxylase was upregulated while α-synuclein being downregulated and the oxidative stress was partially repressed evidenced by the upregulation of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) activity after NA treatment. Conclusion: our findings unveil NA's potential for protecting motor system against motor disorder in the PD mouse model without any side effects, indicating NA as an alternative strategy for PD symptom remission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To describe the available scientific evidence in relation acute onset motor neurological disorders associated with SARS-CoV-2, due to the modifications it represents in the differential diagnosis in children and adolescents. Acquisition of the evidence: The search for articles was held from December 2019 to August 2020, in Medline database. A total of 95 papers in Spanish and English language were consulted. The keywords used were Coronavirus, Covid 19, Neurology; Motor disorders. Results: The neurological manifestations described in the literature associated with the COVID-19 may include acute motor disorders. Therefore, from the pandemic, the differential diagnosis of children and adolescents with muscle weakness or acute starting difficulties includes, as a possible cause, SARS-COV-2. Conclusion: Motor manifestations of neurological origin and acute onset associated with COVID-19 have been described, including myelitis, myositis, polyneuropathies and Guillain-Barre syndrome, which implies modifications in the differential diagnosis in children with acute motor disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Huntington disease is a rare genetic disorder characterized by motor, cognitive, and psychiatric impairments. Although the typical patient has a positive family history and initially presents with chorea between ages 30 and 50 years, some patients do not have a typical presentation. Healthcare providers should know when to refer patients to neurology for testing for Huntington disease. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the earlier the patient and patient's family can receive education about the expected disease trajectory. A multidisciplinary approach is required to mitigate symptoms as the disease progresses. Although no cure exists, ongoing research is targeting genotypic abnormalities in hopes of finding a permanent treatment for Huntington disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty children with cerebral palsy (CP) and 120 typical developing children (TD) performed a topographic working memory (WalCT) test requiring to move their body in a walked vista-space and a visuo-spatial test (CBT) requiring just reaching movements. WalCT score was significantly higher in GMFCS II/III than in TD. CBT score was significantly lower in GMFCS I than in III/IV but lower than TD in all CP groups. Similar results in WalCT between GMFCS I and TD and GMFCS II and III/IV respectively indicate that mobility is associated with topographic working memory. Differently in CBT, the absence of bodily movement allows using different cognitive strategies. Children should be provided with opportunities and active participation to enhancing spatial awareness and navigational skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aimed to compare differences in the cognitive development of children with and without upper limb motor disorders. The study involved 89 children from 3 to 15 years old; 57 children with similar upper limb motor disorders and 32 healthy children. Our results showed that motor disorders could impair cognitive functions, especially memory. In particular, we found that children between 8 and 11 years old with upper limb disorders differed significantly from their healthy peers in both auditory and visual memory scales. These results can be explained by the fact that the development of cognitive functions depends on the normal development of motor skills, and the developmental delay of motor skills affects cognitive functions. Correlation analysis did not reveal any significant relationship between other cognitive functions (attention, thinking, intelligence) and motor function. Altogether, these findings point to the need to adapt general habilitation programs for children with motor disorders, considering the cognitive impairment during their development. The evaluation of children with motor impairment is often limited to their motor dysfunction, leaving their cognitive development neglected. The current study showed the importance of cognitive issues for these children. Moreover, early intervention, particularly focused on memory, can prevent some of the accompanying difficulties in learning and daily life functioning of children with movement disorders.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. PD has been traditionally perceived as a motor disorder. However, it is frequently associated with pulmonary dysfunction which has been assessed by Spirometry, an effort-dependent technique. Purpose: To evaluate in patients with PD the effect of disease severity on respiratory impedance using Impulse Oscillometry (IOS) and to correlate with Spirometry. Methods: The study was conducted on 30 patients diagnosed with PD. Pulmonary function was assessed by IOS and spirometer. IOS is an effort-independent technique that uses sound waves of different frequencies to measure airway resistance. Spirometer measures the lung volume and generates flow–volume and volume–time relationship. Results: The mean age of patients was 60.1±9.45. Resistance at 5 Hz (R5) was found to be negatively correlated with forced expiratory volume in the first second of the FVC manoeuver (FEV1) (r = –0.628, P =.002), FEV1/FVC (forced vital capacity) (r = –0.487, P =.025), and PEF (r = –0.599, P =.004), and resistance at 20 Hz (R20) with FEV1 (r = –0.474, P =.029) and PEF (r = –0.522, P =.015). There was significant increase in R5 (0.32(0.36–0.28) vs 0.47(0.60–0.36); P =.04) and R20 (0.25(0.28–0.20) vs 0.30(0.40–0.25); P =.04) in stage II as compared to stage I of Hoehn–Yahr scale. Conclusion: IOS might be a promising tool for diagnosis of respiratory dysfunction in addition to Spirometry, especially in cases where patients are not able to perform forced manoeuvers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a tropical plant that is used as fresh food, processed food, or raw material for the preparation of flours with high nutritional value. However, cassava contains cyanogenic glycosides, such as linamarin and lotaustralin, that can trigger severe toxic effects and some neurological disorders, including motor impairment, cognitive deterioration, and symptoms that characterize tropical ataxic neuropathy and spastic epidemic paraparesis (Konzo). These alterations that are associated with the consumption of cassava or its derivatives have been reported in both humans and experimental animals. The present review discusses and integrates preclinical and clinical evidence that indicates the toxic and neurological effects of cassava and its derivatives by affecting metabolic processes and the central nervous system. An exhaustive review of the literature was performed using specialized databases that focused on the toxic and neurological effects of the consumption of cassava and its derivatives. We sought to provide structured information that will contribute to understanding the undesirable effects of some foods and preventing health problems in vulnerable populations who consume these vegetables. Cassava contains cyanogenic glycosides that contribute to the development of neurological disorders when they are ingested inappropriately or for prolonged periods of time. Such high consumption can affect neurochemical and neurophysiological processes in particular brain structures and affect peripheral metabolic processes that impact wellness. Although some vegetables have high nutritional value and ameliorate food deficits in vulnerable populations, they can also predispose individuals to the development of neurological diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Rigakuryoho Kagaku is the property of International Press Editing Center Incorporation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The striatum plays an important role in controlling motor function in humans, and its degeneration has the ability to cause severe motor disorders. More specifically, previous studies have demonstrated a disruption in the connectivity of the cortico-striatal loop in patients suffering from motor disorders caused by dopamine dysregulation, such as Parkinson's disease. However, little is known about striatal functional connectivity in patients with motor dysfunction not caused by dopamine dysregulation. In this study, we used early-state Bell's palsy (BP) patients (within 14 days of onset) to investigate how functional connectivity between the striatum and motor cortex is affected by peripheral nerve injury in which the dopamine system remains fully functional. We found a significant increase in the connectivity between the contralateral putamen, and the ipsilateral primary sensory (S1) and motor cortex (M1) in BP patients compared to healthy controls. We also found increased connectivity between the ventral striatum and supplementary motor area (SMA), and the dorsal caudate and medial prefrontal lobe in BP patients compared to healthy controls. Our results demonstrate that the entirety of the striatum is affected following acute peripheral nerve injury, and suggests that this disrupted striatal functional connectivity may reflect a compensatory mechanism for the sensory-motor mismatch caused by BP.

The aim of this study was to compare the social competence, motor development, and cognition of late preterm infants (LPIs) with full-term infants. Several studies in the recent past indicated that LPIs are at high risk of social development problems. We compared the development of motor skills, cognition, and social competency of LPIs with full-term infants at between 2 and 2.5 years old. The Chinese versions of the Gesell Development Diagnosis scale and the Normal Development of Social Skills from Infants to Junior High School Children scale were used for the assessment. LPIs were not more socially competent than their full-term counterparts. Each skill—namely, adaptability, gross motor, fine motor, language, and personal-social responses—was separately associated with the total level of social skills. It was found that gross motor skills had a positive correlation with the self-help and locomotive abilities, and fine motor skills had a positive association with locomotion abilities. LPIs had risk factors due to their delayed social skills in areas including motor disorders and physiological and perinatal factors. LPIs under three were at a higher risk of impairment in social competency. Therefore, it is recommended that they be monitored regularly to identify the development of social and cognitive disorders at an early stage.