Cerebral palsy

Title

Other Names:

Mixed cerebral palsy

Categories:

Nervous System Diseases

Summary Summary

Cerebral palsy refers to a group of neurological disorders that can affect the brain and/or spinal cord. Signs and symptoms generally appear during infancy or early childhood and vary based on the type of cerebral palsy (spastic cerebral palsy, dyskinetic cerebral palsy, ataxic cerebral palsy, and mixed cerebral palsy), the severity of the condition and which area(s) of the brain are affected. Common features include a lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements (ataxia); stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity); walking with one foot or leg dragging; walking on the toes, a crouched gait, or a "scissored" gait; and muscle tone that is either too stiff or too floppy. Cerebral palsy is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain. Most of these problems occur as the baby grows in the womb; however, they can happen at any time during the first 2 years of life. There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but treatment is available to alleviate some symptoms. This may include physical, occupational, and speech therapy; certain medications; surgery; and/or devices (i.e. braces, wheelchairs) to aid in mobility.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Last updated: 11/18/2015

Treatment Treatment

FDA-Approved Treatments

The medication(s) listed below have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as orphan products for treatment of this condition. Learn more orphan products.

AbobotulinumtoxinA (Brand name: Dysport) - Manufactured by Ipsen Limited
FDA-approved indication: Treatment of lower limb spasticity in pediatric patients 2 years of age and older.
National Library of Medicine Drug Information Portal
Medline Plus Health Information

Do you have updated information on this condition? Let us know.

Organizations Organizations

Nonprofit support and advocacy groups bring together patients, families, medical professionals, and researchers. These groups often raise awareness, provide support, and develop patient-centered information. Many are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct people to research, resources, and services. Many groups also have experts who serve as medical advisors. Visit their website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease

Cerebral Palsy Foundation
3 Columbus Circle
15th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Telephone: 212-520-1686
E-mail: info@yourcpf.org
Website: http://yourcpf.org/
Child Neurology Foundation
201 Chicago Avenue #200
Minneapolis, MN 55415
Telephone: 952-846-7942
Website: http://www.childneurologyfoundation.org
Pedal with Pete [For Research on Cerebral Palsy]
P.O. Box 274
Kent, OH 44240
Telephone: 800-304-PETE (7383)
Fax: 330-673-1240
E-mail: petezeid@aol.com
Website: http://www.pedalwithpete.com
Reaching for the Stars, Inc (RFTS, Inc)
3000 Old Alabama Road
Suite 119 – 300
Alpharetta, GA 30022
Toll-free: (855) 240-RFTS (7387)
E-mail: info@reachingforthestars.org
Website: http://reachingforthestars.org/
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP)
1825 K Street, NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006
Toll-free: 800-USA-5UCP (872-5827)
Telephone: 202-776-0406
Fax: 202-776-0414
E-mail: info@ucp.org
Website: http://www.ucp.org

Do you know of an organization? Send us your suggestions.

Learn More Learn More

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

You can obtain information on this topic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is recognized as the lead federal agency for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States.
Mayo Clinic has an information page on Cerebral palsy.
MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) collects and disseminates research information related to neurological disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

In-Depth Information

Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Cerebral palsy. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

News & Events News & Events

NCATS Co-Sponsored Conferences

Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy: Opportunities and Challenges Monday, August 9, 2010 - Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Location: Pooks Hill Marriott, Bethesda, MD
Description: The goals of this meeting were to review the current evidence for care practices and define gaps for which knowledge regarding care is lacking. It was hoped that information (or lack thereof) presented at this meeting would lead to new initiatives and advancement of knowledge and care in the field.

Contact: Rosemary D. Higgins, M.D., higginsr@mail.nih.govhigginsr@mail.nih.gov

Co-funding Institute(s): National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Office of Rare Diseases Research
- Agenda ( - 95KB)
- Participants ( - 29KB)
- Summary ( - 32KB)

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