A Review of Environmental Contributions to Childhood Motor Skills. (November 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Golding, Jean; Emmett, Pauline; Iles-Caven, Yasmin; Steer, Colin; Lingam, Raghu
• Is Part Of: Journal of child neurology. Volume 29:Number 11(2014:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1531
• Page End: 1547
• Publication Date: 2014-11
• Subjects: motor development -- environmental causation -- neurotoxicants -- socioeconomic factors; Nervous system -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.928
• DOI: 10.1177/0883073813507483
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-0738

Abstract

Although much of children's motor skills have a heredity component, at least half of the variance is likely to be influenced by the environment. It is important to ascertain features of the environment that are responsible so that toxins can be avoided, children at risk can be identified, and beneficial interventions initiated. This review outlines the results of published studies and recommends the areas where further research is required. We found much confusion with little comparability concerning the ages or measures used. Few studies had sufficient power and few allowed for confounders. We found that research to date implicates associations with prenatal drinking ≥4 drinks of alcohol per day; diabetes; taking antidepressant drugs; being deficient in iodine or iron; dietary fish; and postnatal depression. The child appearing to be most at risk was born of low birth weight (but not due to preterm delivery) or with neonatal problems.