What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy affects the movement and posture of an affected individual. It is referred to as a permanent disorder, meaning it can not be treated per se.
It can cause movement and activity limitations in affected individuals. It is caused by non-progressive disturbances in the developing brains of a fetus or infant.
While specifically a motor disorder, affecting the motor functions of the body, it can also include issues with sensation and touch, perception and depth awareness, cognitive issues, issues with communication, unusual behaviors that are not considered normality, and epilepsy.
It is a serious and complicated disorder.
Understanding nervous system-related symptoms and features.
Symptoms may affect multiple parts of the body. Understanding which part of the body a symptom affects can help us to better understand the potential underlying causes of a symptom, including a rare disease or genetic syndrome.
The nervous system is made up of a network of nerves and cells that carry messages to and from both the brain and the spinal cord. Within the nervous system are the Central nervous system and the Peripheral nervous system.
The brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system.
Within the peripheral nervous system are the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. The somatic system controls responses to sensory stimuli, while the autonomic nervous system controls the inner workings of organs, including digestion, breathing, and the heartbeat.
Sleep is one body function, controlled by the autonomic nervous system, specifically the sympathetic nervous system.
Motor Skill Impairments: Cerebral palsy often leads to muscle weakness, spasticity, poor coordination, and difficulty with movement and balance, affecting motor function.
Speech and Cognitive Challenges: Children with cerebral palsy may experience speech delays, difficulties with communication, and intellectual disabilities, depending on the severity and type of the condition.
What should I do next?
In some instances, cerebral palsy may be one of the features of a rare disease or genetic syndrome. To find out if someone with Cerebral Palsy, may be due to a genetic syndrome, it is important to have a consultation and evaluation with a clinical genetic specialist. Specialists may also suggest specific genetic testing or other types of tests to help reach a diagnosis. FDNA’s AI technology can help speed up the diagnostic process by analyzing facial features and other health information.