Identifying premature infants at high and low risk for motor delays using motor performance testing and MRS

PURPOSE: To determine specific motor skills in premature infants, match those that correlate with standards tests of motor performance, and MRS measures of abnormal brain biochemistry. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of preterm infants (n = 22). Infant motor assessments were completed at term and 12 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA) using the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) and Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III at 12 months CGA. Infants (n = 12) received MRS scans at term CGA. Rasch analysis and MRS findings investigated TIMP items well targeted to high and low risk infants. RESULTS: A 10 item subset of motor skill items correlated strongly with full 42-item TIMP at term and 12 week testing (r > 0.90, p < 0.001 for both), and with Bayley gross motor scores. MRS metabolites in basal ganglia correlated significantly with both TIMP and 10 item motor tests at term, while frontal white matter metabolites correlated with TIMP and 10 item tests at 12 weeks and Bayley motor scores. CONCLUSION: A short motor skill assessment may be representative of a longer standardized test and relate to brain metabolic function in key areas for motor movement and development. Validation of a shortened assessment may improve early identification of high-risk preterm infants.