Causes and Risk Factors of Cerebral Palsy

Last week we introduced STEPtember and the fantastic cause behind it. Cerebral Palsy is a congenital disability affecting the cerebrum – the part of our brain responsible for motor skills.

Cerebral palsy manifests itself along a scale. In mild cases, it might cause a person to walk with a limp, whereas severely affected people might need a wheelchair. There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but research into its causes is well developed.

This week, we are going to focus on those causes, including how these causes make some people more at risk of being born with cerebral palsy than others.

The known causes of cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is caused by brain development problems as a foetus or newborn. This might be damage that occurs to the brain, or it might be the way that the brain develops initially. The cause of cerebral palsy is not related to severity.

Abnormal cerebrum development before birth is the most common cause. Often, this is because a gene mutation causes the cerebrum to develop abnormally, making it difficult to detect before birth. Other times, the cause might be environmental.

Environmental factors that can cause cerebral palsy include maternal infections and drug use. Foetal trauma in the womb and complications with the pregnancy or birth process are other environmental factors that can cause cerebrum damage.

Rarely, babies develop cerebral palsy later during their first year of life. This type is known as ‘acquired’ and is usually the result of an infection, brain injury or stroke after birth.

Risk factors for cerebral palsy

Some causes don’t guarantee a cerebral palsy diagnosis but make it more likely to develop in some babies over others. This increase in a person’s risk of being born with a disability is known as a risk factor.

Cerebral palsy risk factors include the mother using cocaine, smoking or drinking alcohol during her pregnancy. A lack of oxygen during birth was once thought to be the most common risk factor for cerebral palsy, but it is now regarded as one of many.

Pregnancy complications can include a foetal stroke or a physical injury to the pregnant stomach (that causes foetal injury). Maternal infections such as rubella, herpes and chickenpox can also cause the cerebrum to develop abnormally.

Premature or low birthweight and multiple babies born at once are other birth complications that can cause damage to the cerebrum. Assisted births and births resulting from fertility treatments are also more likely to produce babies with cerebral palsy.

Anyone at risk of these pregnancy complications consequently has a slightly increased risk of their baby being born with cerebral palsy. Women with intellectual or physical disabilities and thyroid disorders are also included in this group.

Assessing cerebral palsy risk

If you are a pregnant woman with increased risk, reach out to their doctor who will conduct a thorough risk assessment. Working closely with you, they will be able to support you in ensuring your pregnancy is as healthy as possible.

As well as assisting during pregnancy, your doctor can help you make an informed birth plan to minimise the chance of brain injury during childbirth. Getting vaccinated is also one of the most important ways to avoid infection-induced cerebral palsy.

The cerebral palsy risk factors are wide and varied, and no two pregnancies are the same. If you are worried that your baby might have cerebral palsy, speak to your doctor about the signs and symptoms, which we will cover next week.

Felicity Thompson

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