Emerging Issues in Cerebral Palsy Associated With Aging: A Physiatrist Perspective

Abstract

The population of adults diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) is increasing along with the survival rate of children born with the disability. Adults with CP need health services for the continued monitoring and management of their condition. Moreover, the development of additional health problems in adulthood increases the need for ongoing access to health services. Adults with CP manifest a higher rate of chronic health conditions and eventual decline in strength and functional reserve, deterioration in physical activity, increased risk of musculoskeletal complications, and gradual changes in swallowing ability. They are also reported to exhibit difficulty engaging socially and have a low health-related quality of life (QOL). However, there are a large number of adults with CP who cannot access medical services adequately and are therefore not effectively treated. To overcome these apparent challenges, we need to fully comprehend the healthcare needs of adults with CP to develop adult-focused health services. Further research is needed regarding the impact of physical activity, nutrition, sarcopenia, myeloradiculopathy, and swallowing function on QOL.

Single Residue Variation in Skeletal Muscle Myosin Enables Direct and Selective Drug Targeting for Spasticity and Muscle Stiffness

“…Consequently, a nervous-system-independent, safe, and effective treatment is a significant unmet need from both clinical and socio-economical perspectives. Therefore, MPH-220 is a promising anti-spastic drug candidate to improve quality of life and may contribute to extended life expectancy (Blair et al, 2019;Gillard et al, 2015;Slaman et al, 2014;Yi et al, 2019) of these patients and would provide new therapeutic protocols for clinicians in these diverse indications.…”

Well-Being of Ambulatory Adults With Cerebral Palsy: Education, Employment, and Physical Function of a Cohort Who Received Specialized Pediatric Care

“…For youth with CP, the loss of pediatric health care and school-based support systems presents enormous challenges. A lack of strong societal support mechanisms is well-documented for people with disabilities and leads many young adults with CP to struggle with independence, higher education, and employment ( 2 , 5 – 11 , 30 ). These observations have been documented in other countries, such as Norway where individuals with CP had lower odds of completing upper secondary education and had higher odds of receiving a disability pension ( 31 ).…”

“…It has been reported that adults with CP face declining health with aging related to increased levels of pain ( 2 , 30 , 33 , 34 ). For instance, a study on self-reported health outcomes found that 63% of adults with CP report chronic pain ( 35 ).…”

“…It has been hypothesized in the literature that access to specialty health care for adults with CP is limited because CP is considered to be a static condition with a focus on care during childhood ( 2 , 30 , 37 ). There is conflicting information in the literature about the accessibility to specialized health care for adults with CP.…”

“…The lack of quality rehabilitation and orthopedic care for adults with CP could hinder the maintenance of functional mobility since orthopedic sequelae persist throughout the lifespan and continue to impact motor performance. Compounding this on the medical side, a high prevalence of comorbidities in persons with CP is associated with decreased overall health in adulthood ( 2 , 30 , 33 , 34 ).…”