Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect movement and posture due to brain problems. Factors that can shorten life expectancy include severity, mobility, and related health problems, such as seizure disorders. Complications like malnutrition can also affect life expectancy.
Many people think of cerebral palsy as a single condition. In fact, the term is used to describe a group of disorders in which problems with the brain negatively affect a person’s ability to move, balance, and sit or stand. Unfortunately, cerebral palsy can also contribute to a more serious problem: shortened life expectancy. While many people who have cerebral palsy enjoy a normal life, certain factors can make life expectancy much shorter than usual. Factors that can shorten the life expectancy of cerebral palsy include the severity of the condition, mobility and complications, and related health problems, such as seizure disorders.
Cerebral palsy typically develops in early childhood, causing children to have coordination and posture difficulties. A person with this condition may have muscles that are floppy and unable to perform as usual or stiff muscles that inhibit movement. In addition to problems with walking and balance, a person with cerebral palsy may also drool excessively and have trouble speaking or swallowing. Sometimes even things like writing and dressing are difficult, and some with these disorders also experience shaking. Cerebral palsy is typically caused by conditions that occur before the baby is born, such as infections affecting the fetus. Physical injuries during delivery can sometimes be to blame, and some people can develop cerebral palsy — caused by brain damage or infection — after birth.
The life expectancy of cerebral palsy can depend on the type and severity of the condition. For example, a person who has the spastic form of the disorder has very stiff muscles. Patients with severe spasticity may have a shorter life expectancy. Those with moderate forms of cerebral palsy can expect to live much longer. Those with very mild cases may have similar life expectancies to those who don’t have the condition.
Mobility also appears to play an important role in the life expectancy of cerebral palsy. Those who need repeated surgeries to correct mobility issues or spastic movements may have shorter life expectancies. Similarly, the ability to move and have an active lifestyle appears to influence life expectancy; those with severely impaired mobility may have shorter lifespans. However, this is not just limited to walking. Mobility also includes sitting and rolling over.
Complications can also affect the life expectancy of cerebral palsy. For example, a person who has trouble swallowing and eating may develop malnutrition, which can shorten their life expectancy. Those who have severe seizure disorders and other serious health problems associated with cerebral palsy may also have shorter life spans.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
