2. Introduction
Cerebral Palsy is caused by brain injury or brain
malformation that occurs before, during, or immediately
after birth while the infant’s brain is under development.
But how a brain injury affects a child’s motor functioning
and intellectual abilities is highly dependent on the nature
of a brain injury, where the damage occurs, and how severe
it is.
3. Types of Cerebral Palsy
Spastic Cerebral Palsy: The most common type of CP is spastic CP. Spastic CP affects about
80% of people with CP. People with spastic CP have increased muscle tone. This means their
muscles are stiff and, as a result, their movements can be awkward.
Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: People with dyskinetic CP have problems controlling the movement
of their hands, arms, feet, and legs, making it difficult to sit and walk. The movements are
uncontrollable and can be slow and writhing or rapid and jerky. Sometimes the face and tongue
are affected, and the person has a hard time sucking, swallowing, and talking. A person with
dyskinetic CP has muscle tone that can change (varying from too tight to too loose) not only
from day to day, but even during a single day.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: People with ataxic CP have problems with balance and coordination.
They might be unsteady when they walk. They might have a hard time with quick movements or
movements that need a lot of control, like writing. They might have a hard time controlling their
hands or arms when they reach for something.
Mixed Cerebral Palsy: Some people have symptoms of more than one type of CP. The most
common type of mixed CP is spastic-dyskinetic CP.
4. Parts of the Brain Affected by Cerebral
Palsy
Cerebral palsy affects the motor area of the
cerebral cortex
In some cases, the cerebral motor cortex
hasn’t developed normally during fetal
growth. In others, the damage is a result of
injury to the brain either before, during, or
after birth.
6. Causes of Cerebral Palsy
• Prenatal disturbance of brain cell migration – genetic and environmental
factors disturb brain cell migration as cells move to their appropriate
location during brain development.
• Prenatal poor myelination (insulation) of developing nerve cell fibers –
brain function is impeded when poor myelin provides an inadequate
protective covering over nerve cells that aid in the transmission.
• Perinatal brain cell death – events in the birthing process that rupture
blood vessels or starve oxygen to the brain.
• Postnatal non-functional or inappropriate connections (synapses)
between brain cells – trauma, infections, and asphyxia that damage
connections developed in the brain.
7. How this course helped me better analyze
events and happenings around me
This course helped me visualize and map the various parts
of the nervous system. This improved my understanding
about various neurobiological defects and disorders. This
course also helped me appreciate the marvelous functions
performed by our brain and the speed with which such
functions are performed. Dr. Peggy Mason always
explained concepts very patiently and using real-life
examples, which was very helpful.
