Slower Pace of Intellectual Development Is Common in Children With Cerebral Palsy-A Population-Based Study
Mattias Wicke Selvén1, Kate Himmelmann1,2, Magnus Påhlman1,2
1Child Neurology Assessment Unit, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Insights
Intellectual disability is common in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and often worsens with age. Factors like epilepsy and brain injury are linked to slower intellectual development, necessitating regular assessments.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Cerebral palsy (CP) affects motor function but also impacts cognitive development.
- Understanding intellectual trajectories in children with CP is crucial for intervention planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize intellectual levels and developmental changes in children with cerebral palsy (CP).
- To identify factors associated with the rate of intellectual development in this population.
Main Methods:
- A population-based study of 264 children with CP (born 1999-2006) in Västra Götaland, Sweden.
- Data collected from the CP Register and medical records up to age 18.
- Longitudinal intellectual assessments were compared for 171 children assessed multiple times.
Main Results:
- Intellectual disability prevalence increased with age: 40% at age 7, 50% at age 12, and 54% at age 18.
- Over 55% of children assessed longitudinally showed a decline in intellectual level over time.
- Epilepsy, grey matter brain injury, impaired communication, and fine motor deficits were associated with slower intellectual development.
Conclusions:
- Intellectual disability and a slower pace of intellectual development are prevalent in children with CP.
- Repeated intellectual assessments are vital for monitoring cognitive changes.
- Children with specific risk factors (epilepsy, brain injury, communication/motor impairments) require particular attention.
Aim:
To describe the intellectual level and changes during development in children with cerebral palsy (CP) and to investigate if there are factors associated with the pace of intellectual development.
Method:
Population-based study of all 264 children (141 boys, 123 girls) with CP born 1999-2006 in the region of Västra Götaland. Information was retrieved from the CP Register of western Sweden and all medical records to the age of 18 years. For the 171 children assessed more than once, results from first and last assessments were further compared.
Results:
Intellectual disability became more common with increasing age. Forty percent of the 264 children were diagnosed with intellectual disability at age 7, 50% at age 12% and 54% at age 18. Of the 171 children assessed more than once, 55% showed a lower intellectual level over time. Epilepsy, predominant grey matter brain injury, impaired communication and fine motor function were associated with increased risk of slower pace of intellectual development.
Conclusion:
Intellectual disability as well as slower pace of intellectual development over time are common in children with CP, highlighting the importance of repeated intellectual assessments, especially in children with epilepsy, predominant grey matter brain injury, impaired communication or fine motor function.
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