Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition that affects the movement and coordination of a person's body. It is caused by a brain injury or abnormality that occurs before, during, or shortly after birth. In general, people with cerebral palsy can expect to live between 30 and 70 years on average. Those with mild cases may have a life expectancy similar to the general population, while those with more severe cases may have a shorter life expectancy. Research indicates that properly managing a child's health status can help optimize life expectancy.
A one-time brain injury, responsible for cerebral palsy and the subsequent deterioration of mobility, will not worsen or change over time. With the help of physical therapy, medications, and other interventions, those with mild cerebral palsy can lead relatively normal lives. Children with severe cerebral palsy and a number of concomitant mitigating factors are known to live an almost normal life expectancy. Mixed-type cerebral palsy can cause problems with mobility, communication, eating and several co-existing conditions that can greatly affect life expectancy. The treatments available for a child with cerebral palsy depend on their symptoms and the severity of their condition.
According to Dr., children with mild cerebral palsy have a 99% chance of living to age 20, while children with severe cerebral palsy have a 40% chance. People with longer life expectancies tend to have more mobility, better medical care and adaptive equipment, and greater autonomy and independence. It is true that your care may involve more visits to the doctor, requiring therapy or medications and, perhaps, surgery. They can be evaluated for early intervention, special education services, and assistive technology. The average life expectancy in the United States is 78.8 years and most people with mild cases of cerebral palsy can expect to live to a similar age. However, people with more severe cases of cerebral palsy have a shorter life expectancy than the general population.
Most children with cerebral palsy can live long, happy, and quality lives. Cerebral palsy is linked to a higher risk of developing epilepsy, with spastic quadriplegia being the most common form of seizure-related cerebral palsy. According to the Global Change Data Lab, life expectancy refers to the number of years a person can expect to live. In addition, according to a study on people with cerebral palsy conducted by BMC Neurology, more than 80% of people have a life expectancy of 58 years or more. After all, cerebral palsy is a health condition that doesn't affect everyone in the same way. Although life expectancy depends on many factors, most people with cerebral palsy enjoy healthy lives as long as potentially life-threatening associated conditions are controlled and healthy medical care and lifestyle supports are provided.
