Barkley (2004) has argued that motor control is part of executive function. Therefore, intact executive function would appear to be crucial for competent motor control (e.g. Seitz et al. 2000). There is some indication of deficits in gross and fine motor coordination in the offspring from families of alcoholics. Lipscomb et al. (1979) were the first to identify greater body sway in offspring from families with an alcoholic parent. These initial observations that individuals with a family history of alcoholism are more likely to exhibit impairments in postural stability were supported by subsequent studies (Hegedus et al. 1984; Hill et al. 1987b; Hill and Steinhauer 1993). Because postural control improves with age, decrements in the rate of improvement with age seen in high risk offspring may reflect a subtle developmental delay (Hill et al. 2000b). A recent report finds that greater sway at age 15 coupled with lower amplitude of P300 before age 13 increases the risk for developing SUD in young adulthood 8-fold (Hill et al. 2009b). Using data from the Danish Longitudinal Study of Alcoholism, Manzardo et al.
