In the last few months there's been a spate of studies about cerebral palsy, some of which will blow your mind—in a good way. Max's cerebral palsy is part of who he is, but if there were any way to diminish it and make his life easier, of course I'd want to. These studies give me hope—for Max and other kids with CP, and for babies at risk for it.
Found: a new cause for cerebral palsy. Experts have long considered birth mishaps a prime cause for cerebral palsy—but researchers have found that many cases may be due to genetic abnormalities. The research by Geisinger Health System, published in the acclaimed The Lancet Neurology journal, notes that scientists have discovered six genes that can cause CP when "disrupted." Inadequate oxygen supply to fetuses has long been the most studied factor for CP, the paper notes. Although fetal monitoring is now around to detect issues, and more C-sections are done to avoid difficult deliveries, the rate of CP has not decreased (2 to 3 per 1000 live births)—meaning, there must be another cause. "What we're finding is a growing body of evidence that suggests mutations in multiple genes are responsible for CP," says research scientist Andres Moreno De Luca, M.D., the paper's lead author. "In fact, we suspect these genetic abnormalities may also be the cause of some difficult births to begin with." The article recommends that doctors consider doing genetic testing when kids have CP or symptoms, and notes that there will most likely be an increase in research—and new ways to treat CP.
A drug that could treat cerebral palsy: Anti-inflammatory medication could help change the course of cerebral palsy, a study in the journal Science Translational Medicine finds. Researchers injected the drug into newborn rabbits with cerebral palsy; within five days, the bunnies were able to walk and hop, which they'd previously had trouble with. "This suggests that there is a window of opportunity to prevent cerebral palsy," says Roberto Romero, chief of the Perinatology Research Branch of the National Institutes of Health and author of the study. More research is needed to determine whether this could help humans, and if it can be effective when given beyond infancy.
Nintendo Wii as therapy? Yep. Active video games can help promote light to moderate physical activity in kids with cerebral palsy, finds a new study. The games "provide a low-cost commercially available system that can be strategically selected to address specific therapeutic goals," says lead investigator Elaine Biddiss, Ph.D., of Toronto's Bloorview Research Institute at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital and the University of Toronto. Researchers studied 17 kids with CP while they played Wii Boxing, Tennis, Bowling and Dance Dance Revolution, tracking data on their energy, muscle activity and motion. Although the games didn't build endurance or strength, they enabled kids to do moderate levels of physical activity. Experts say the repetitive action involved in active games might spark changes in the brains of kids with CP, in turn improving movement. That is, if their siblings share the Wii with them.
Image/Dazt
We have used Wii and Xbox Kinect for years now (Kinect, more recently) to promote fun physical therapy for our twins (now 6 1/2). One has mild CP and the other had some fine motor issues and also has ADHD... :) win win for us... one kid burns up the energy, the other gets free physical therapy!!! :):)
ReplyDeleteInteresting - I love reading studies/research like this! My daughter's CP is a big unknown (and it's the "rare" kind, so that makes it even trickier) - the best guess from most of the doctors we've seen is that something happened very early on in utero, but I've always wondered just WHY. We'd declined genetic testing, but now I'm thinking maybe we'll go for it when she's old enough to give her own consent. Thank you for this post!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat info! The genetic connection puzzles me since my twins are identical. One has CP and the other doesn't. I think they would be great research candidates! I'm also encouraged by the rabbit research!
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning Elaine's work!! We have also found benefits in use of Wii for kids with amputations who are relearning to walk and balance with artificial legs.
ReplyDeleteWith our daughter who died just 3 days after birth we knew she'd had the brain injury (bleed) a couple of days prior to delivery so she wouldn't have ever made it down the birth canal because of all the swelling on her brain, she wouldn't have fit. We were fortunate to have picked up the bleed otherwise it would have been put down to birth trauma and subsequent death and bleed as a result of birth trauma... she provided huge insights to the medicos that a brain injury prior to delivery could cause the traumatic birth... not the other way around. We had a c-sect so we could see how she fared - sadly her injury was too great for her to survive. Glad to see some good research happening out there - been feeling like things have been a bit blinkered for a decade or so.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting post! Thanks for sharing the research on the causes of CP. The research into the different causes (and how to tell the cause in a particular patient) is very interesting and important. One thing I want to mention is that that article makes it sounds like oxygen deprivation or traumatic birth aren't real causes because the rates of CP have held fairly steady over time. That's just not true--the rates of CP have held steady in part because in the US we've gotten better and better at saving the lives of very premature babies. Babies who used to die now survive--but some develop CP, which has kept the overall rates of CP up even though there are fewer instances of CP caused by traumatic birth (because medical care has improved). The efforts to reduce the risk of oxygen deprivation during childbirth are still very important. But I'm so glad there is research into other factors (environmental exposure, genetics) as well.
ReplyDeleteWe're a group that provides resources for families of those with cerebral palsy. Many parents are concerned about sending their children to summer camps. Fortunately, there are at least 32 summer camps that can accommodate children with CP. Find out more here.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Tina on the video games as therapy thing--they do the trick when your insurance only goes so far (to say nothing of keeping kids busy while you're trying to get dinner on the table!). This is a great topic -- I find the mutation theory totally believable, not that I am a scientist or anything. You've got to figure that with all the crap in the food, air and water, we're still under attack constantly even with better access to medical care and more understanding of health issues.
ReplyDeleteOur daughter was born full-term with no complications at birth, so the cause of her brain damage and resulting CP is unknown. Our pediatrician suggested genetic testing. We're currently awaiting results. I think there needs to be more education surrounding the genetic component. I'm glad you included it in your post.
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