Intrathecal injection of baclofen (ITB) improves dystonia, muscle tone, pain, and other impairments in patients with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP), a new study from Sweden shows. The study, “Intrathecal baclofen in dyskinetic cerebral palsy: effects on function and activity,” was published in the journal Developmental Medicine &…
Treating premature babies in the first days after birth with caffeine may aid in development of the central nervous system and lessen their likelihood of cerebral palsy, a study from Canada reports. This research, “Early Caffeine Administration and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Preterm Infants,” was published at Pediatrics,…
Task-oriented training (TOT) improves hand dexterity in children with cerebral palsy (CP), according to a preliminary study from South Korea. The research, titled “The effects of task-oriented training on hand dexterity and strength in children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy: a preliminary study,” was published in…
A study shows that severe acidosis at birth is associated with adverse neonatal and two-year outcomes. It is known that acidosis, a condition characterized by low pH levels (caused by high levels of acid) in body fluids, at birth is associated with an increased risk of adverse outcomes. But its…
The use of botulinum toxin A in children with cerebral palsy (CP) differs according to their age, sex, and gross motor function, according to a new Swedish study. The study, “Treatment with Botulinum toxin A in a total population of children with cerebral palsy – a…
The March of Dimes will mobilize staff and volunteers to help families with newborns in intensive care units at hospitals in the United States to celebrate their first Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanzaa as a family. The initiative for families whose babies were born preterm will help create a warm first…
Results of a pilot study suggest that the use of external electrical stimuli may help reduce scoliosis and manage its impact in children with severe cerebral palsy. This may represent a new therapeutic option for those who cannot be treated through surgical procedures, which are considered the only effective option…
ObsEva has started a proof-of-concept clinical trial of its compound OBE022’s ability to prevent or delay premature births, which are associated with the development of cerebral palsy and other neurological conditions. The population in the Phase 2a study, called PROLONG, will be women who start labor 24 to 34 weeks…
Magnesium sulfate given to pregnant women at risk of preterm birth can prevent cerebral palsy and reduce the combined risk of fetal/infant death or cerebral palsy, researchers found. The study, “Assessing the neuroprotective benefits for babies of antenatal magnesium sulphate: An individual participant data meta-analysis,” was…
Researchers at Imperial College London and Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust report that the overall incidence rate of brain injury among newborns — an injury at or soon after birth — is 5 per 1,000 live births in England. Trauma, specifically events that deprive the brain of…