The emerging genetic landscape of cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a broad clinical descriptor that encompasses a heterogeneous group of nonprogressive neurodevelopmental disabilities affecting movement and posture. While linked by the presence of damage to the developing brain, the etiology of CP is likely varied and the clinical outcomes are diverse. There is now a large body of evidence supporting a significant role for genetics in causation of CP. An increasing number of studies have identified likely causative genetic variants in families with CP, as well as in individual sporadic cases. Next-generation sequencing is now aiding clinicians in making specific molecular diagnoses, providing future opportunities for tailored treatments and for informed reproductive decisions.