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A Battery of Motor Tests in a Neonatal Mouse Model of Cerebral Palsy
10:02

A Battery of Motor Tests in a Neonatal Mouse Model of Cerebral Palsy

Published on: November 3, 2016

Cerebral palsy: classification and epidemiology

Amy Thornhill Pakula1, Kim Van Naarden Braun, Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, The Marcus Autism Center, Emory University, 1920 Briarcliff Road, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America
|August 1, 2009
PubMed

Insights

This review covers cerebral palsy (CP), the leading childhood motor disability. It examines CP causes, risk factors like birth weight and gestational age, and prevalence measurement methods.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in childhood.
  • Understanding its historical context, classification, and causes is crucial for effective management and prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the historical background, classification, and etiology of cerebral palsy (CP).
  • To examine methods for measuring CP prevalence.
  • To categorize and discuss various risk factors associated with CP.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of historical data on cerebral palsy.
  • Analysis of classification systems for CP.
  • Examination of epidemiological studies on CP prevalence.
  • Categorization of risk factors into prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal groups.

Main Results:

  • Cerebral palsy etiology is multi-factorial with numerous causes.
  • Leading prenatal and perinatal risk factors include low birth weight and premature gestational age.
  • Other significant risk factors identified are neonatal encephalopathy, infections, inflammation, multiple pregnancies, and genetic factors.

Conclusions:

  • Cerebral palsy is a complex condition with diverse origins.
  • Identifying and mitigating risk factors, particularly those related to birth weight and gestational age, is key to reducing CP incidence.
  • Continued research into the multifactorial etiology of CP is essential.

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