What is cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term for the effects of damage to
a developing brain by various causes. It is connected with a range of symptoms,
including muscle weakness and movement problems. The damage to the brain
usually occurs early on in its development, either in the baby during pregnancy
or during the period soon after birth. Symptoms may include difficulties in
walking, balance and motor control, eating, swallowing, speech or coordination
of eye movements. Some people affected by cerebral palsy also have some level
of intellectual disability. No two people with cerebral palsy are affected in
exactly the same way.
What are the different types of cerebral palsy?
Each child is unique, and cerebral palsy takes different forms
depending on which area of the brain has been damaged. Doctors usually make a
diagnosis after looking at the brain injury using an MRI brain scan and
considering the patient’s most dominant movement problem. They also
monitor the child through developmental milestones such as sitting, crawling,
walking. There are four main types of cerebral palsy: spastic, dyskinetic,
ataxic, or mixed when the patient has more than one movement disorder. Spastic
cerebral palsy is the most common
form, accounting for around 80% of all cases. This type typically involves
muscle tightness, which makes movement difficult and can affect speech and
bladder control. It can affect part or all of the body. Many patients with
spastic cerebral palsy also have some involuntary movements and are therefore
referred to as mixed. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy accounts for 10-15% of cases, and is often one
of the most severe forms of cerebral palsy. It causes involuntary movements,
changes in muscle tone and also affects posture and/or movement. Ataxic
cerebral palsy accounts for around 5%
of cerebral palsy, and affects fine coordination of movements, for example
balance, posture, gait, control of eye movements and depth perception.
What are the causes of cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy may arise during pregnancy, but can also be
caused by complications at birth, or following injury or illness after birth.
It is often difficult to pinpoint exactly what has caused the damage to the
brain because many different things can work together to create each person’s
unique set of symptoms, including:
·
Changes in the genes
inside the brain’s cells can affect how the brain develops
·
The brain can
sometimes develop in an unusual shape or structure
·
Infections during
pregnancy or physical injury can cause damage to the brain
·
Complications of
premature birth
·
Critical illness at
birth (known as neonatal encephalopathy), which sometimes causes a shortage of
oxygen to the brain
Examples of cells found
in the brain: Many different types of cells interact to carry signals around the
brain and between the brain and body. Cerebral palsy is difficult to treat
because it can involve damage to all of these types of cells and their
connections.
How is cerebral palsy treated now?
Today’s therapies focus on
making the symptoms of cerebral palsy more manageable. There is no cure, but
teams of healthcare professionals work together with the patient to tackle the
different aspects of their cerebral palsy. This might include physiotherapy and
occupational therapy to improve movement and mobility, as well as speech
therapy to improve communication skills. Muscle relaxants are available to
tackle muscle stiffness, and other medicines are available to help with feeding
problems in babies. A number of specialist organizations provide support for families
and information on available therapies.