Novel Insights into Developmental Coordination Disorder
A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Developmental Neuroscience".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 February 2026 | Viewed by 5
Special Issue Editors
Interests: prematurity; high-risk follow-up program; neurodevelopmental outcomes
Interests: newborn; nutrition; perinatal asphyxia; inflammatory reaction in the newborn; growth and development of very low birth weight newborns and retinopathy of the prematurity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a prevalent yet often underrecognized neurodevelopmental condition that significantly impacts motor coordination, daily functioning, and psychosocial well-being throughout an individual’s lifespan. Once dismissed as the result of mere “clumsiness,” DCD is now understood as a complex disorder with far-reaching neurological, cognitive, and emotional consequences. Despite its formal recognition in the DSM and ICD, DCD remains underdiagnosed, especially among children with comorbidities such as ADHD or autism, and in high-risk populations like those born preterm.
This Special Issue collates cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research on this topic to advance the understanding of DCD, ranging from its biological foundations to its real-world implications. We highlight the urgent need for the early, context-sensitive identification of the disorder and tailored, multidisciplinary interventions. The contributions span topics including neurodevelopmental mechanisms in preterm populations, neuroimaging and digital assessment tools, executive function and emotional regulation in DCD, the disorder’s impact on quality of life, and its long-term outcomes. We welcome submissions of original research, systematic reviews, theoretical models, and methodological innovations that reflect the evolving landscape of DCD care across cultures, systems, and stages of life.
Prof. Dr. Rita C Silveira
Prof. Dr. Renato S. Procianoy
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- neurodevelopment
- prematurity
- developmental coordination disorder (DCD)
- executive function
- life-course trajectories
- mental health
- brain development
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