Cerebral palsy(CP) is linked to certain known causes and risk factors.
It’s resulting from damage ordevelopmental problems of the brainleading to a deficit of motor skills.
There may be accompanying cognitive issues.
© Verywell, 2018
In many cases, there is no identified cause of cerebral palsy.
Larger than usual spaces filled with fluid may be present in some instances.
The cause of the congenital abnormalities is not usually identified.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Low Birth Weight
Low birth weight has been associated with cerebral palsy.
Maternal Illness
The vast majority of people who experience illness during pregnancy have healthy children.
This can cause damage to the growing brain.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Genetics
The role of genetics in cerebral palsy is not completely clear.
Generally, it has been thought that heredity may only be responsible for a small percentage of cases.
Drug use during any stage of pregnancy may contribute to cerebral palsy.
Even so, it is a major cause of disability that can impact a persons long-term health and well-being.
It is more common in children who are preterm or have a low birth weight.
Cerebral palsy is diagnosed based on a childs development over time.
There is some evidence that children with mild cerebral palsy may outgrow their condition.
Respiratory problems are the main cause of premature death.
Some studies have reported that around half of people with cerebral palsy die of pneumonia.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Data and statistics for cerebral palsy.
Hallman-Cooper JL, Gossman W.Cerebral Palsy.
[Updated 2019 Jul 18].
In: StatPearls [Internet].
Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2020 Jan-.
Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538147/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cerebral Palsy (CP).
Causes and Risk Factors of Cerebral Palsy.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
2001;138(6):804810. doi:10.1067/mpd.2001.114473
Kabat J, Krol P.Focal cortical dysplasia - review.Pol J Radiol.
2020;9(Suppl 1):S125S135.
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2007.
11, Neurodevelopmental, Health, and Family Outcomes for Infants Born Preterm.
2005;2(3):e61.
doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.0020061
Hallman-Cooper JL, Rocha Cabrero F.Cerebral palsy.
In:StatPearls [Internet].
Cerebral Palsy Center at UCLA.What is CP?
Nelson KB.Outgrowing a cerebral palsy diagnosis.Dev Med Child Neurol.
Part II: individual survival prognosis.Dev Med Child Neurol.
2019;19(1):111. doi:10.1186/s12883-019-1343-1
