Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy Research

Much of the research conducted on cerebral palsy is aimed at its prevention. Many scientists now believe that children develop cerebral palsy as a result of mishaps in early brain development. Scientists are focusing on how brain cells specialize, migrate and form connections in order to isolate factors that can disrupt this process before and after birth. Scientists are also focusing on other events such as bleeding in the brain, seizures, and breathing and circulation problems that threaten the brains of newborn children. Cerebral palsy research has lead to some promising new treatments. They include:

• ECMO. Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation is a recently introduced treatment that may help newborn infants with life-threatening breathing and blood circulation problems. These problems often prevent an adequate amount of oxygen from reaching the child’s brain. This lack of oxygen causes brain damage that results in cerebral palsy. ECMO involves routing blood from the patient to a machine that artificially removes the carbon dioxide and adds oxygen. This technique has been shown to dramatically help some infants.
• Magnesium. Magnesium is a natural compound that is responsible for numerous chemical processes within the body and brain. It is often administered to pregnant women, in the form of magnesium sulfate, in an effort to prevent preterm labor and high blood pressure brought on by pregnancy. Some research has shown that magnesium may protect against brain bleeding, a phenomenon that is more likely in premature infants. Since premature babies are 100 times more likely to develop cerebral palsy, use of magnesium may prevent a significant number of infants from developing this condition.
• New anti-seizure drugs. Cerebral palsy is often accompanied by seizures. Research has lead to the development of five new anti-seizure drugs that have been approved for marketing. They are carbamazepine, clonazepam, valproate, clorazepate, and felbamate.
• Experimental drugs. Researchers have been exploring the use of the toxin botulinum. In large amounts, this toxin causes muscle paralysis. However, in tiny doses to specific muscles, this toxin has shown promise in reducing spasticity. Other research has focused on drugs that appear to reduce the risk of neonatal stroke.
• Experimental drug delivery method. Scientists are exploring the use of tiny implanted pumps that would deliver a constant supply of medication into the fluid around the spinal cord. It is believed that this method of delivery would increase the effectiveness of the medications while reducing their side effects.