According to 2010 information from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, 800,000 people in the United States have cerebral palsy, with 10,000 new cases occurring each year. Damage to the brain causes cerebral palsy, which occurs during the first two years of a child's life. Cerebral palsy affects multiple functions such as cognition and mobility.
Types of Cerebral Palsy
Five types of cerebral palsy exist, which include dyskinetic, hypotonic, ataxic, spastic and mixed cerebral palsy. MedlinePlus explains that spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type. Symptoms include tight muscles, paralysis, tight joints and an abnormal walk. The other types of cerebral palsy result in different symptoms. For example, patients with dyskinetic cerebral palsy have writhing movements of their limbs, such as twisting of the arms. Ataxic cerebral palsy affects balance, while hypotonic cerebral palsy causes decreased muscle tone. Patients with mixed cerebral palsy have symptoms of more than one type.
Neurological Long-Term Effects
Since cerebral palsy results from damage to the brain, many of the long-term effects involve the brain and nerves. For example, patients may have seizures, a brain condition that results from irregular electrical activity in the brain. MedlinePlus points out that half of cerebral palsy patients have seizures, which causes symptoms like a loss of consciousness and muscle control. Sometimes, cerebral palsy causes mental retardation, which affects learning. Patients may experience abnormal sensations, such as pain. The MayoClinic.com adds that cerebral palsy can affect patients' speech, vision and hearing.
Long-Term Effects on the Bones
Cerebral palsy can also affect a patient's bones. For example, patients may have bone thinning, which can make them more vulnerable to injuries from falling. Cerebral palsy can affect the hips, which include problems like arthritis in the hip joint and hip dislocation. MedlinePlus notes that cerebral palsy may cause joint contractures, which are tight joints that do not fully open. Patients can also have spinal deformities, which include scoliosis, humpback and saddle back, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Severity of Effects
The severity of cerebral palsy varies in each patient. MedlinePlus explains that the long-term effects can range from mild to severe. Some of the effects, such as the bone problems, can occur on one side of the body or both sides.
Prognosis
MedlinePlus points out that cerebral palsy is a lifelong disorder. While the long-term effects of cerebral palsy do not affect a patient's life span, patients may require a caregiver. For example, if a patient has severe cerebral palsy and cannot take care of himself, he may need to live in an institution with a residential staff that can provide round-the-clock care.
