Children with cerebral palsy (CP) are dealt a difficult hand from the very beginning. But could a long life still be in the cards for them? Cerebral palsy life expectancy depends on many different variables, so that question doesn’t have an easy answer.
Below, we’ll tell you what current research says about how long people with CP might live—plus how their life expectancy and prognosis can be improved.
What is the Life Expectancy for Cerebral Palsy?
In general, most people with cerebral palsy (CP) live well into adulthood and beyond. The average lifespan for a person in the United States is 76 years. So that’s about how long someone with mild cerebral palsy might live as well.
However, life expectancy for a child with CP can vary depending on these factors:
- The severity of their condition
- Associated health complications they may have
- Access to medical care
- The overall quality of life
Advances in medical care and supportive therapies mean that many people with CP live long, full lives. However, they require access to regular medical care and support to optimize their quality of life and longevity.
Also, some severe cases may have a shortened life expectancy due to complications. These include respiratory issues, seizures, or other medical conditions associated with cerebral palsy.
Does Cerebral Palsy Get Worse Over Time?
Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition. But it’s not progressive. That means it doesn’t get worse over time, like some degenerative diseases do. But the symptoms and functional abilities of individuals with cerebral palsy can change over time due to various factors like growth, aging, secondary conditions, and interventions.
For example, muscle stiffness or spasticity might become more pronounced as a person with cerebral palsy grows. They may experience joint pain, arthritis, or other musculoskeletal issues. Those issues can render them unable to move around much.
Regular exercise is crucial for good cardiovascular and muscular health. So a lack of mobility can affect the quality of life for a person with CP.
That being said, someone with CP can also improve their quality of life over time. They can manage their symptoms and live a more active life with appropriate interventions, such as:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Assistive devices
- Medications
- Surgical interventions (usually for severe cases)
Cerebral Palsy Prognosis
When we discuss life expectancy, we’re talking about how many years a person can expect to live. Prognosis, on the other hand, refers to what course a disease might take. You might think of it as the “forecast” for what a person’s life might look like, similar to a weather forecast.
The weather forecast varies widely based on location. Likewise, cerebral palsy prognosis depends on many factors. If you’re a parent of a child with CP, you should discuss their prognosis with a medical professional. Their doctor should do a thorough examination of your child’s condition and give you a good idea of what to expect.
Here are some of the general factors that impact cerebral palsy prognosis:
- Life expectancy. This goes hand-in-hand with cerebral palsy prognosis.
- Severity and type of CP. Some cases of CP are more severe than others.
- Functional abilities. For example, some kids with CP can walk. Others require mobility aids to get around.
- Access to Treatment. People with CP can live much more productive and satisfying lives when they have access to social support, medical care, and therapy.
- Complications. Respiratory issues, joint deformities, and seizures are examples of complications that could complicate the prognosis for a child with CP.
- Early diagnosis and treatment. When it comes to treating CP, earlier is better. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has said that early diagnosis and treatment improves the prognosis for children with CP.
What Complications Could Impact Cerebral Palsy Life Expectancy?
Cerebral palsy itself might not impact a person’s life expectancy. But complications associated with it could. Some of these complications include:
Respiratory Issues
Many people with CP have difficulties with swallowing, breathing, or impaired respiratory muscle function. These problems can lead to serious respiratory complications like aspiration pneumonia, chronic lung disease, or respiratory infections.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is more common in individuals with cerebral palsy. Uncontrolled seizures can pose risks to their health and safety.
Musculoskeletal Problems
Some people with CP have persistent muscle stiffness (spasticity), contractures, scoliosis, hip dislocation, or joint deformities. Those with very severe CP may not be able to move on their own at all. Musculoskeletal problems can affect mobility and potentially reduce cerebral palsy life expectancy.
Nutritional Issues
Some people with CP have gastrointestinal issues or trouble feeding and swallowing. This can lead to malnutrition and poor growth.
Communication and Cognitive Challenges
Cognitive challenges can make it difficult for a person with CP to understand medical instructions and advocate for their own health needs.
Cardiovascular Problems
Some people with CP have heart issues such as congenital heart defects, arrhythmias, or cardiomyopathy. These can affect heart function and overall health.
Mental Health Concerns
Depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are more common in individuals with CP. If these conditions go untreated, they could decrease a person’s quality of life and life expectancy.
Extending Life Expectancy for Cerebral Palsy
Research published in BMC Neurology brings some good news about children with severe cerebral palsy. Since 1990, more of these kids are surviving into adulthood.
The study involved giving each child with CP a Disability Score (DISAB). This score looks at how severe their problems are, like trouble moving, thinking, having epilepsy (seizures), or being blind or deaf in both eyes or ears.
Children with lower DISAB scores, like between 1 and 5, had a better chance of making it to adulthood compared to those with higher scores, like between 6 and 12.
Even so, getting help early on for severe problems can make a difference. The reason why more kids with severe CP are surviving to adulthood is likely because of improvements in healthcare and the average family’s access to it.
What does it take to extend cerebral palsy life expectancy? It mainly involves making sure the person with CP has a treatment plan that’s tailored to their unique needs. Their plan should help manage any complications they have.
Here are some ways parents could help extend the life expectancy of a child with CP:
- Make sure they get regular medical check-ups.
- Provide physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy to help them improve their quality of life.
- Address serious conditions that often go hand-in-hand with CP, like epilepsy, respiratory issues, and musculoskeletal problems.
- Provide wheelchairs, orthotics, communication aids, and adaptive equipment if needed
- Ensure adequate nutrition and hydration to support growth.
- Provide social support and opportunities for social interaction to reduce the risk of depression.
- Encourage involvement and support from family members.
Lifetime Cost of Treating Cerebral Palsy
Since most kids with CP do survive to adulthood, you might wonder what the cost of lifetime treatment for them is. One study published by The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report estimates it to be between $900,000 and 1 million USD. Since that study took place over 20 years ago, it’s about $1.6 million in today’s dollars.
Help for Parents of Children with Cerebral Palsy
Most parents of children with CP will go to great lengths to improve their child’s cerebral palsy prognosis. However, the cost of treatment can simply be too high for some families. Here are some ways they might find financial relief:
- Health insurance
- Government assistance programs
- Special education services
- Nonprofit organizations
- Clinical trials and research studies
- Fundraising events or crowdfunding campaigns
- Financial assistance programs from hospitals or charitable foundations
For additional resources, follow the link to our birth injury resources post. In addition, parents of children with CP may want to consider filing a medical malpractice lawsuit to obtain financial support. This is only for cases where the child’s condition is the direct result of someone’s negligence. If you believe a doctor, nurse, or other medical professional made a mistake that cost your child their health, contact our lawyers.
Let us hear your story—we’ll tell you whether you have a case. If so, you may be able to sue for the cost of your child’s treatment, and potentially increase their life expectancy.
Cerebral Palsy FAQ’s
The most common cause of death in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) is respiratory complications. This includes issues such as pneumonia, aspiration pneumonia, and other respiratory infections. The reason for this is that people with CP often have difficulties with swallowing (dysphagia), reduced mobility, and weakened respiratory muscles. Managing respiratory health is crucial for prolonging life expectancy and improving the quality of life for someone with CP.
According to recent research published in BMC Neurology, the most common causes of death for people with CP are:
– Pneumonia
– Aspiration
– Seizures
– Accidents
– Infection
No one has ever completely recovered from cerebral palsy. There’s no cure for it as of yet. It involves non-progressive, permanent damage to the brain. There’s no way to reverse permanent brain damage, so a person can’t erase the effects of CP.
However, people with CP can improve their mobility and quality of life. Some of the ways they can do that are through physical therapy, speech therapy, medications, and surgery.
Physical therapy can significantly benefit someone with cerebral palsy by improving muscle strength, flexibility, and coordination. It helps enhance mobility, reduce pain, and prevent contractures and deformities. Regular physical therapy sessions tailored to the individual’s needs can improve daily functioning and promote independence.