Cerebral palsy (CP) is a permanent movement disorder caused by injury to the developing brain. Previously, people believed that CP was caused by a lack of oxygen around the time of birth. However, we now know that there are many different risk factors and causes of CP. Examples of risk factors include preterm birth, infection, multiple birth and genetic factors, as well as complications during birth. For some children, multiple risk factors are involved in a ‘pathway’ to CP. 

For other children, the cause of CP remains unknown.

As risk factors and causes of CP have been identified, research has focused on finding opportunities to prevent other children from developing CP. For children born preterm, there are now treatments such as magnesium sulphate and corticosteroids, as well as improved care in the neonatal intensive care unit. Collectively, these can help to protect the brain from damage.

There are also new options for children born full term who sustain a brain injury, such as therapeutic cooling for babies who are very unwell at birth. Strategies like vaccinations, improved surgical care and public health messages are also helping prevent CP caused by brain injury in the first two years of life. 

The good news is: we know that these strategies are working. The CP Registers here in Australia have shown that the rate of CP has decreased by about 1/3 in recent years. Studies are now exploring additional treatments that might help prevent or reduce the severity of CP, including drugs to protect the brain, and strategies to prevent preterm birth and infection.

For people living with CP and their families, many are eager to know if there is a cure for CP, or whether one might be developed soon. Currently there is no known cure for CP. In fact, because CP has so many different causes, it is not realistic to expect that a single cure can be found. Instead, we need to look for different cures for different situations.

One field of research that offers promise in this area is stem cell therapy. We already know that some stem cell types can have a small but positive effect on gross motor function. More studies are needed to find out which stem cell treatments might be the most effective for people with CP.

Stem cell research is an area of high interest for many in the CP community, and despite a lack of clear evidence, many people with CP and their families are actively seeking out unproven treatments. Aside from stem cells, next-generation treatments such as gene therapy may one day be helpful, and brand-new technologies may also be discovered in the future. Researchers don’t know how long it will take to find cures for CP. In the meantime, we hope that the new treatments identified will at least help to improve function for people living with CP.

The topic of prevention and cures of CP is complex. While opinions and viewpoints differ, people with CP and their families have asked for more research to be done in these areas. Working together, we hope that this will lead to further prevention and decline in the rate of CP, reduction of the impact and severity for people with CP, and the goal of finding cures.

Provided and produced courtesy of Cerebral Palsy Alliance at www.cerebralpalsy.org.au