Cerebral Dysgenesis and Cerebral Palsy

Fact Checked

Cerebral dysgenesis and cerebral palsy often co-occur. Cerebral dysgenesis is a kind of brain malformation characterized by incomplete development, abnormal growth, incomplete brain division, or incomplete organization of the developing brain. Treatments are similar to those used for cerebral palsy.[1]

What Is Cerebral Dysgenesis?

Cerebral dysgenesis is the abnormal development of the brain that occurs while a baby is still in the womb.

Unlike other causes of cerebral palsy, this does not result from a brain injury, such as asphyxia or traumatic physical injury. It is an actual malformation of the brain; in other words, the brain does not develop and grow the way it is supposed to.

There are several ways in which the brain may develop abnormally:

• It may not completely develop.
• It may develop but then grow in an abnormal way.
• The brain may develop and grow but not be organized in a normal way.
• It may grow, develop, and organize, but fail to divide into the standard two hemispheres.

Cerebral dysgenesis can be triggered at any point during the development of the fetus. Brain development begins right after conception, and the first 20 weeks of pregnancy are the most important for the brain.

Diagnosing Cerebral Dysgenesis

Depending on how severe the malformation is in a child’s brain when they are born, the symptoms and signs may be mild and barely detectable, moderate, or severe and obvious.

If doctors suspect a brain malformation, they can use imaging scans, like MRIs, ultrasounds, and CT scans to image the brain after birth and find out if the brain is malformed.[2]

They can also use genetic and chromosome tests that can determine if a baby has been born with cerebral dysgenesis caused by a genetic mutation or a chromosomal abnormality.

Symptoms and Signs of Cerebral Dysgenesis

Another important part of diagnosing cerebral dysgenesis and evaluating children who might have a brain malformation is to watch for symptoms and signs. These vary in type and severity depending on how severe the malformation is and in what part of the brain it occurred.

Some of the common signs seen in newborns with this condition are:

• Seizures
• Gagging
• Lip-smacking
• Failure to thrive
• Low APGAR score

The APGAR score is a quick evaluation done at 1 and 5 minutes after birth done right after birth to assess heart rate, blood pressure, reflexes, skin color, and muscle tone. A low APGAR score may indicate a problem in the brain.

Sometimes the signs of cerebral dysgenesis are not obvious until a child gets older. This is especially true for cases of mild or moderate malformation.

A child may not be developing at a normal pace, for instance, or may experience difficulties with crawling, walking, talking, and other developmental milestones.[3]

Other possible signs include a small head size, abnormal eye movements, poor motor skills, and mental deficiencies.

Cerebral Palsy and Treatment

Cerebral dysgenesis is not a common cause of cerebral palsy. However, if a malformation in the brain is detected in a child, it is likely that he or she will also be diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Brain malformations and cerebral palsy cannot be cured, but they are also not progressive.

These conditions will not get worse with time, so treatments can be used to manage symptoms and complications so a child can live an optimal life.

As with any child diagnosed with cerebral palsy, the treatments for a child with cerebral dysgenesis vary depending on the individual’s types of symptoms. Doctors also consider the severity of symptoms and the needs and limitations of that child. Physical therapy is a standard treatment.

These children may also undergo surgery to correct bone, joint, and muscle problems that restrict movement or cause spastic movements.

Other types of therapy or treatment that may be used throughout a child’s life include occupational therapy, speech therapy, medications, educational interventions, physical aids, and behavioral therapy.

Causes and Risk Factors

For most children with a brain malformation, one particular cause is difficult to pinpoint. Genetics may play a role with specific genes and gene mutations that have been linked with cerebral dysgenesis and related conditions.

One of the most serious and common risk factors is infection. Cytomegalovirus, rubella, herpes simplex virus, toxoplasmosis, syphilis, Zika, and the chickenpox virus, are known to be serious risk factors for brain malformations in a developing fetus.

Preventing Cerebral Dysgenesis

There is no cure for cerebral dysgenesis once it occurs in a baby. Treatments for this condition can only help a child live a more normal life and manage symptoms; it cannot reverse the brain damage.

Avoiding genetic mutations is not possible at this point. However, staying in good health is a very important way for a pregnant woman to help prevent cerebral dysgenesis in her unborn baby.

Staying up to date with doctor’s appointments allows the mother’s medical team to catch any infections and treat them to minimize harm to the developing brain of the fetus.

Cerebral dysgenesis is one possible, although uncommon, cause of cerebral palsy. If your child was born with this malformation and cerebral palsy and you believe there was a preventable cause, your doctor may be negligent.