White matter changes with rehabilitation in children with Co-occurring autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Up to 88 % of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience motor difficulties consistent with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Cognitive Orientation to daily Occupational Performance (CO-OP) intervention is effective for children with co-occurring ASD and DCD to learn motor skills, but it is unknown if treatment-induced brain changes occur in this clinical population. Our objectives were to: (1) investigate changes in white matter microstructure in children with ASD + DCD after CO-OP intervention; (2) determine whether these brain changes are maintained three months after intervention; and (3) explore the relationship of white matter changes with improvements in motor function.

Methods

In this quasi-experimental study, 24 children with ASD + DCD

SUBMITTER: Kangarani-Farahani M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12489768 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature