Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affects movement and muscle coordination. It's caused by damage to the developing brain, either before birth, during birth, or in the first few years of life.
Symptoms:
Muscle stiffness or weakness
Difficulty with coordination and balance
Tremors or involuntary movements
Speech and language problems
Learning disabilities
Vision or hearing problems
Unfortunately, There is no cure for CP, but there are many treatments that can help people manage their symptoms and possibly lead to recovery. Those with this disorder are only expected to live 30 - 70 years after birth. However, this statistics may vary depending on the treatments patients receive. Some treatment plans include:
Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Speech therapy
Medication
Surgery
Extensive research and dedicated therapies constantly work to improve cerebral palsy patients’ quality of life, so here are some ongoing research areas:
Stem cell therapy: Studies explore the potential of stem cells to repair damaged brain tissue. These cells can actually divide through a process called mitosis in order to produce specialized cells. This way, we can grow new cells for the patient which would then allow him to overcome this disease.
Gene therapy: Mutations in certain genes can increase the risk of CP, but these genes are rarely the sole cause. But still, the scientists are looking for a way in order to correct or edit these genes. Brain-computer interfaces: Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are fascinating technologies that allow people to interact with computers or other devices using just their thoughts. Think of it as a direct link between your brain and the world outside! Sensors are placed on your head or implanted in your brain (though thenon-invasive methods are more common). They pick up on electrical signals from your brain activity, like when you imagine moving your hand or focusing on a specific object. The Software interprets those signals and figures out what you're thinkingor trying to do. It's like translating brain language into computer language. This would allow paralyzed patients to control external things like moving a cursor on the screen for example.
Written by : Roua Kanj
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