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Updated: Nov 21, 2025
Enhancing the Development and Growth of Infant Cerebral Palsy Rats Using Selective Spinal Manipulations
Published on: February 2, 2024
Advances in cerebral palsy biomarkers
Zeynep Alpay Savasan1, Sun Kwon Kim1, Kyung Joon Oh2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine Division, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, MI, United States; Oakland University-William Beaumont School of Medicine, Beaumont Health, Royal Oak, MI, United States.
Insights
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common childhood neurodisability with diverse causes and effects. Research is advancing risk factors and biomarkers for better CP prediction, diagnosis, and treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Disabilities
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) is the leading cause of severe neurodisability in children globally, affecting approximately 17 million people.
- CP is a heterogeneous condition with varied causes, clinical presentations, neuropathology, and associated developmental disorders like intellectual disability, autism, and epilepsy.
- Despite its prevalence and impact, significant challenges remain in CP prediction, early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current risk factors and biomarkers for cerebral palsy (CP) diagnosis and prediction.
- To highlight the importance of understanding CP physiopathology for developing protective strategies.
- To forecast advancements in biomarker discovery and their impact on CP understanding and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current risk factors for cerebral palsy (CP).
- Analysis of existing biomarkers utilized in CP diagnosis and prediction.
- Exploration of the link between biomarker discovery and understanding CP etiopathophysiology.
Main Results:
- Identified heterogeneity in CP causes, clinical types, neuropathology, and associated conditions.
- Highlighted insufficient progress in CP prediction, early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies.
- Emphasized the role of risk factors and biomarkers in current CP management.
Conclusions:
- Advancements in biomarker discovery are expected to deepen the understanding of CP's etiopathophysiology.
- Increased understanding will likely lead to novel therapeutic interventions and improved prognosis for cerebral palsy.
- Continued research into risk factors and biomarkers is crucial for addressing the global burden of CP.
Abstract:
Cerebral palsy (CP), defined as a group of nonprogressive disorders of movement and posture, is the most common cause of severe neurodisability in children. The prevalence of CP is the same across the globe, affecting approximately 17 million people worldwide. Cerebral Palsy is an umbrella term used to describe the disease due to its inherent heterogeneity. For instance, CP has multiple (1) causes; (2) clinical types; (3) patterns of neuropathology on brain imaging and (4) it's associated with several developmental pathologies such as intellectual disability, autism, epilepsy, and visual impairment. Understanding its physiopathology is crucial to developing protective strategies. Despite its importance, there is still insufficient progress in the areas of CP prediction, early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Herein we describe the current risk factors and biomarkers used for the diagnosis and prediction of CP. With the advancement in biomarker discovery, we predict that our understanding of the etiopathophysiology of CP will also increase, lending to more opportunities for developing novel treatments and prognosis.
