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NINDS Cerebral Palsy Information Page

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Condensed from Cerebral Palsy: Hope Through Research

Table of Contents (click to jump to sections)
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?

Organizations
Related NINDS Publications and Information
Publicaciones en Español
Additional resources from MEDLINEplus

What is Cerebral Palsy?

The term cerebral palsy refers to any one of a number of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination but don’t worsen over time. Even though cerebral palsy affects muscle movement, it isn’t caused by problems in the muscles or nerves.  It is caused by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movements.  The majority of children with cerebral palsy are born with it, although it may not be detected until months or years later. The early signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before a child reaches 3 years of age.  The most common are a lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements (ataxia); stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity); walking with one foot or leg dragging; walking on the toes, a crouched gait, or a “scissored” gait; and muscle tone that is either too stiff or too floppy.  A small number of children have cerebral palsy as the result of brain damage in the first few months or years of life, brain infections such as bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis, or head injury from a motor vehicle accident, a fall, or child abuse.

Is there any treatment?

Cerebral palsy can’t be cured, but treatment will often improve a child's capabilities.   Many children go on to enjoy near-normal adult lives if their disabilities are properly managed. In general, the earlier treatment begins the better chance children have of overcoming developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish the tasks that challenge them.   Treatment may include physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, drugs to control seizures, relax muscle spasms, and alleviate pain; surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or release tight muscles; braces and other orthotic devices; wheelchairs and rolling walkers; and communication aids such as computers with attached voice synthesizers. 

What is the prognosis?

Cerebral palsy doesn’t always cause profound disabilities.   While one child with severe cerebral palsy might be unable to walk and need extensive, lifelong care, another with mild cerebral palsy might be only slightly awkward and require no special assistance. Supportive treatments, medications, and surgery can help many individuals improve their motor skills and ability to communicate with the world.

What research is being done?

Researchers are investigating the roles of mishaps early in brain development, including genetic defects, which are sometimes responsible for the brain malformations and abnormalities that result in cerebral palsy. Scientists are also looking at traumatic events in newborn babies’ brains, such as bleeding, epileptic seizures, and breathing and circulation problems, which can cause the abnormal release of chemicals that trigger the kind of damage that causes cerebral palsy.  To make sure children are getting the right kinds of therapies, studies are also being done that evaluate both experimental treatments and treatments already in use so that physicians and parents have valid information to help them choose the best therapy.

Select this link to view a list of studies currently seeking patients.

Organizations

United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)
1660 L Street, NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC   20036
national@ucp.org
http://www.ucp.org
Tel: 202-776-0406 800-USA-5UCP (872-5827)
Fax: 202-776-0414

 Pathways Awareness Foundation [For Children With Movement Difficulties]
150 N. Michigan Avenue
Suite 2100
Chicago, IL   60601
friends@pathwaysawareness.org
http://www.pathwaysawareness.org
Tel: 312-893-6620 800-955-CHILD (2445)
Fax: 312-893-6621
March of Dimes Foundation
1275 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY   10605
askus@marchofdimes.com
http://www.marchofdimes.com
Tel: 914-428-7100 888-MODIMES (663-4637)
Fax: 914-428-8203

 Easter Seals
230 West Monroe Street
Suite 1800
Chicago, IL   60606-4802
info@easterseals.com
http://www.easterseals.com
Tel: 312-726-6200 800-221-6827
Fax: 312-726-1494
Children's Neurobiological Solutions (CNS) Foundation
1826 State Street
Santa Barbara, CA   93101
info@cnsfoundation.org
http://www.cnsfoundation.org
Tel: 866-CNS-5580 (267-5580) 805-898-4442

 Children's Hemiplegia and Stroke Assocn. (CHASA)
4101 West Green Oaks Blvd., Ste. 305
PMB 149
Arlington, TX   76016
info437@chasa.org
http://www.hemi-kids.org
Tel: 817-492-4325
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Research & Educational Foundation
1025 Connecticut Avenue
Suite 701
Washington, DC   20036
national@ucp.org
http://www.ucpresearch.org
Tel: 202-496-5060 800-USA-5UCP (872-5827)
Fax: 202-776-0414

 Pedal with Pete [For Research on Cerebral Palsy]
P.O. Box 274
Kent, OH   44240
petezeid@aol.com
http://www.pedalwithpete.com
Tel: 800-304-PETE (7383)
Fax: 330-673-1240
Related NINDS Publications and Information
Publicaciones en Español


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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892



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Last updated September 10, 2008