Cerebral palsy and ALS have certain similarities, including being neurological disorders that affect muscle control. Although they seem alike in certain ways, there are also many essential differences, including the causes, progression, treatment, and prognosis.
About Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders that cause similar symptoms related to muscles, movement, coordination, and balance. It is caused by damage to the developing brain, often during fetal development or childbirth. This damage impairs the brain’s ability to control muscles and movements.
There are different types of cerebral palsy and varying degrees of severity, from mild to severe. Some people have few symptoms, while others are severely affected and can never live independently.
Cerebral palsy is often accompanied by associated conditions, like epilepsy, cognitive impairment, vision or hearing loss, or emotional and behavioral disorders.[1]
What Is ALS?
ALS stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease for the baseball player who had the condition. It is a motor neuron disease, a type of neurological disorder that damages motor neurons, or nerve cells.
Motor neurons control muscle movements throughout the body. As these nerve cells are destroyed, muscle control becomes increasingly difficult. ALS affects all types of muscles. This includes skeletal muscle that can be consciously controlled, as well as smooth muscle tissue that is under involuntary control.
ALS gets worse over time, resulting in decreased ability to control muscle movements. Ultimately, this disease is fatal as a patient loses the ability to eat or breathe. Patients die from respiratory failure.[2]
Similarities and Differences Between Cerebral Palsy and ALS
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy can be unexpected and upsetting, but most people with CP live long, fulfilling, and even normal lives. ALS, unfortunately, has a worse prognosis. While there are some similarities between these conditions, there are important differences.
CP and ALS Affect Motor Function
Both of these conditions are neurological and affect parts of the nervous system related to motor function. This results in some similar symptoms, like muscle stiffness or weakness, muscle spasms, difficulty controlling muscles, or being unable to walk unsupported.
CP motor symptoms vary more by individual. Different types of cerebral palsy make muscles over- or under-toned. They affect different parts of the body. There is much less variation in symptoms in ALS.
ALS Is Progressive, But Cerebral Palsy Is Not
ALS is a progressive disease, meaning that it gets worse with time and is fatal. Cerebral palsy does not get worse over time. In fact, with the right early interventions, the severity of cerebral palsy can be lessened.
Cerebral Palsy and ALS Have Different Causes
Between 5% and 10% of ALS diagnoses are the result of genetic mutations. This type of the condition is known as familial ALS. In all other cases of ALS, there is no known cause. Researchers have determined that environmental factors might play a role. Smoking, exposure to toxins, and service in the military are all associated with an increased risk of ALS.[3]
Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the developing brain, which itself has many potential causes. Common causes are birth complications that result in a loss of oxygen to the baby’s brain.
The Age of Onset for CP and ALS Is Different
CP occurs in the developing brain, so it begins very early in life. It occurs most often during childbirth, but accidents soon after birth or even in young toddlers can also cause cerebral palsy.
ALS can begin at any age, but in most people, the first symptoms appear between the ages of 55 and 75.[4]
Diagnosis Isn’t Simple
Neither ALS nor cerebral palsy has a single diagnostic test. For cerebral palsy, doctors largely look at a child’s motor development and other symptoms to make a diagnosis. The milder the symptoms, the more difficult it is to diagnose.
ALS causes symptoms similar to more common conditions, so it is rarely diagnosed early. Doctors use a variety of tests, mostly to rule out other conditions. Tests include imaging scans like MRI, blood tests, nerve conduction studies, and EMG, a test that records electrical activity in muscles.
Both Conditions Cause Complications
Primary symptoms of both ALS and CP are accompanied by complications or associated conditions. In ALS, these include difficulty speaking and eating, breathing problems, and cognitive impairments, including dementia.
Cerebral palsy can cause a much wider range of associated conditions: cognitive impairment, vision loss, hearing loss, arthritis, seizures, learning difficulties, malnutrition, mood disorders, and more. The type and severity of complications vary by individual.
There Is No Cure for Cerebral Palsy or ALS
Neither cerebral palsy nor ALS has a cure. Researchers continue to look for cures for these conditions, but so far, they can only be treated and managed. Treatments for cerebral palsy help children live with the condition with less pain and greater mobility. Treatments also target the associated conditions.
Treatment for ALS cannot restore damaged neurons. Treatment is largely supportive care to help patients feel more comfortable. There are some medications that might slow the progression of nerve damage and symptoms.
The Outlook Is Worse for ALS
Most patients with ALS die within three to five years of their diagnosis. The cause of death is respiratory failure. Some people live longer. In fact, 10% of patients live ten years or longer.[2]
Cerebral palsy has a more hopeful prognosis. Patients with mild or even moderate cerebral palsy can typically transition to independent adulthood and manage symptoms with mobility aids, medications, and other treatments. Some people with CP have more severe symptoms and cannot live independently.
If your child has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, it’s essential to learn more about the condition. It is also important to get appropriate treatments as soon as possible. CP can be a frightening diagnosis, but there is a good chance your child can live a full and long life.
