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 468

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Interests: prematurity; high-risk follow-up program; neurodevelopmental outcomes

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Guest Editor
Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Interests: newborn; nutrition; perinatal asphyxia; inflammatory reaction in the newborn; growth and development of very low birth weight newborns and retinopathy of the prematurity
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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

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Keywords

  • neurodevelopment
  • prematurity
  • developmental coordination disorder (DCD)
  • executive function
  • life-course trajectories
  • mental health
  • brain development

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 395 KB  
Article
Early Biomedical and Environmental Factors Associated with Developmental Coordination Disorder in a Brazilian Preterm Cohort
by Carolina Panceri, Renato Soibelmann Procianoy, Rita de Cássia Silveira and Nadia Cristina Valentini
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(12), 1250; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15121250 - 21 Nov 2025
Viewed by 313
Abstract
Background: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is frequent in preterm children, but its etiology remains unclear, with conflicting findings across studies. Moreover, no previous research has examined the rate and risk factors of DCD in Brazilian preterm populations. Aim: To investigate biomedical and environmental [...] Read more.
Background: Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is frequent in preterm children, but its etiology remains unclear, with conflicting findings across studies. Moreover, no previous research has examined the rate and risk factors of DCD in Brazilian preterm populations. Aim: To investigate biomedical and environmental risk factors associated with a later indication of DCD at preschool age in Brazilian preterm children. Methods: Sixty-three preterm children from a follow-up clinic were assessed at preschool age using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children—Second Edition (MABC-2). Biomedical data from the NICU stay and socioeconomic/environmental information were collected. The associations between potential risk factors and DCD were explored using multivariate logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of DCD was 52.4% (n = 33). Group differences were observed in sex, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, ventilatory support, and family income. Logistic regression [χ2(4) = 31.39; p < 0.006] identified sex, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and family income as significantly factors associated with DCD. Conclusions: Both biomedical and environmental risk factors are associated with DCD at preschool age. These findings highlight the need for early screening and monitoring, as minor motor difficulties may be overlooked when such risk factors are observed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Insights into Developmental Coordination Disorder)
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