Potential clinical applications of advanced genomic analysis in cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) has historically been attributed to acquired insults, but emerging research suggests that genetic variations are also important causes of CP. While microarray and whole-exome sequencing based studies have been the primary methods for establishing new CP-gene relationships and providing a genetic etiology for individual patients, the cause of their condition remains unknown for many patients with CP. Recent advancements in genomic technologies offer additional opportunities to uncover variations in human genomes, transcriptomes, and epigenomes that have previously escaped detection. In this review, we outline the use of these state-of-the-art technologies to address the molecular diagnostic challenges experienced by individuals with CP. We also explore the importance of identifying a molecular etiology whenever possible, given the potential for genomic medicine to provide opportunities to treat patients with CP in new and more precise ways.