Cerebral palsy

Abstract

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong physical disability affecting movement and posture. The motor impairments of cerebral palsy result from non-degenerative brain injuries, brain malformations, and genetic variations, arising from multiple risk factors and causal pathways during preconception, pregnancy, birth, or within the first 2 years of life. Over the past decade, substantial progress in diagnosing, preventing, and managing the condition has transformed treatment approaches. A key discovery is that up to 30% of individuals with CP have a genetic contribution. In high-income countries, the prevalence has decreased by as much as 40%, from 2·1 per 1000 livebirths to 1·6 per 1000 livebirths. However, the prevalence is higher in low-income and middle-income countries. Advances in early diagnosis make identification of cerebral palsy at as early as age 3 months possible, enabling timely, intensive early intervention that improves child and parent outcomes. Additionally, new medical, regenerative, and rehabilitation therapies have emerged, enhancing function and participation. Growing awareness of the health challenges and physical decline faced by adults underscores the need for a lifelong approach. This Seminar highlights the best available evidence and recent progress to help clinicians address key questions identified by individuals with lived experience.