Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of physical and mental disabilities caused by damage to a baby’s developing brain. This damage can occur during pregnancy or shortly after birth. It may not be possible to identify the exact cause of the damage. Individuals with CP often have difficulty with speech, movement, eating, and controlling their eye movements. Some individuals also have learning disabilities. Currently, there is no treatment to fully reverse the effects of CP. Therapies focus on managing symptoms and improving communication. Researchers believe that neural (brain) stem cell treatments or transplants may one day by able to repair neurons and restore brain functioning in CP. In this section you will find factsheets about CP and ongoing research in this area, as well as guidelines as to where you can look for support if you or a loved one are living with CP.