Cerebral palsy is a neurological condition that affects muscle tone, and the ability to move in a coordinated way. It also affects sight, hearing and learning skills depending on which part of the brain is damaged. The damage to the brain happens during the gestation stage in the mother’s womb, during birth, or within the first few years after birth.
Cause of Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy sets in when the cerebrum region of a fetal or infant brain (before 5 years of age) gets damaged due to the genetic disorder, infection, maternal health issue, fetal stroke, complications during delivery and breech delivery that prevent proper development of the brain. Underweight or premature babies are also highly susceptible to cerebral palsy. Besides, brain damage in infants could also be due to head injury, bacterial meningitis, and lead/mercury poisoning.
Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy
The symptoms of cerebral palsy depend on the severity of the brain damage. Some of the common symptoms that are highly noticeable are:
- Stiff or Floppy muscles
- Lack of coordination and balance
- Involuntary movements
- Seizures and tremors
- Delayed motor development
- Speech difficulty
- Excessive drooling
- Lack of cognition and learning skills
The doctors recommend several imaging tests to diagnose the extent of the brain damage through:
- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
- CT (Computed Tomography) scan
- EEG (Electroencephalogram)
- Cranial Ultrasound
Children with cerebral palsy lack cognition, intellectual, and learning skills. They experience learning difficulties, short attention span, and communication difficulties. All these impacts the literacy, mathematical ability along with various classroom skills and activities. The learning difficulties and intellectual disability deprive children to gain access to mainstream education and for developing self-sufficiency and other social skills. To regain lost skills, cell therapy is the best option.
Cerebral palsy treatment at Neurogen hospital is met through therapy involving bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. These multipotent stem cells have enormous therapeutic potential for brain and skeletal tissue repair and the ability to differentiate into many cell types.
Why Stem Cells?
In cerebral palsy, the traumatic brain injury imposes neurophysiological alterations leading various forms of neuro-disability that includes impaired cognition and motor activities in children and adults. According to neurosurgeons, mesenchymal stem cells have an excellent neuro-regenerative capability. When infused into the body of the patient, these cells cure neuronal damage to improve cognitive and motor skill.
A stem cell-based cerebral palsy treatment, through intrathecal delivery, supports and stimulates endogenous neurogenesis. The infused stem cell release neuroprotective and trophic factors to reduce apoptosis and inflammation. In the process, they replace damaged neurons and brain tissue to allow sufficient tissue regeneration. Thus, cell treatment for cerebral palsy helps in regaining the brain plasticity.
Therapies Post Cell Treatment
Post cerebral palsy treatment with stem cells, children are advised to enroll in various therapeutic rehabilitation sessions to hone their intellectual skills.
- Occupational therapy helps a child learn everyday activities.
- Speech therapy helps a child with his/her swallowing problem, speak more clearly, and learn to communicate using sign language.
- Recreational therapy involves art sessions and activities along with sports to improve a child’s overall physical and intellectual skills.
