Motor functioning during early recovery after childhood Arterial ischemic stroke is associated with intellectual abilities

Motor impairments are one of the most common adverse outcomes after childhood arterial ischemic stroke (C-AIS), yet their relationship with intellectual abilities is not yet well understood. This study examined associations between intellectual abilities and motor functioning and clinical features associated with motor impairment. Participants were 34 children with C-AIS. Motor functioning was assessed with the Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure sensorimotor subscale at two timepoints: early recovery (between 30 days post-stroke and 1 year) and closest to time of neuropsychological testing. Intellectual abilities were measured using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children 4th or 5th edition. Motor functioning during early recovery was significantly associated with intellectual functioning, verbal abilities, perceptual reasoning abilities, and processing speed. Motor functioning closest to time of neuropsychological testing was associated with processing speed. There were more children with subcortical lesions with no/mild motor deficit, whereas there were more children with cortical + subcortical lesions with moderate/severe motor deficits. Associations between motor functioning during early stroke recovery and intellectual abilities may be related to neuroplastic changes post-injury, resulting in early motor deficits and affecting subsequent development of intellectual abilities through hierarchical maturational processes, whereas motor functioning closer to neuropsychological testing reflects maturational recovery processes augmented by intervention.