Cerebral palsy (CP) is a common cause of disability that impacts a person across his or her lifespan. In addition to aging-related diseases, decline in function in adulthood can be attributed to conditions secondary to the impairments associated with CP. There are substantial literature on unique health needs and impact of CP on children and fewer studies specifically investigating the health needs and impact of CP on the aging adult. The purpose of this article is to present current literature on the effects aging has on adults with CP. In addition, the article will discuss the importance of preventive healthcare and wellness and iterate the challenges of accessing appropriate healthcare and healthcare providers by adults with CP. Recommendations are provided encouraging service providers to plan interventions, services, and supports to improve the participation of adults with CP in a contemporary system of care.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.