A new study pinpoints faulty genes as another potential cause behind hemiplegic cerebral palsy.
Until now, there was an insufficient amount of information to verify that genetics was part of the etiological work-up of forms of cerebral palsy, such as hemiplegia, even though researchers and doctors knew it was important.
Cerebral palsy is a rare neurological movement disorder that is characterized by lack of muscle control. It can cause severe complications in the children it affects, and there is a lack of clear understanding behind the onset of the disease. To learn more about cerebral palsy, click here.
Hemiplegia is weakness or total paralysis on one side of the body. It is often a complication of cerebral palsy. For more information on hemiplegia, visit this page here.
That’s why this study, which was the first of its kind, exclusively focused on the hereditary factors and genetic differences that were involved in hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Researchers looked at a group of 97 patients and their families and identified specific mutations in the subjects’ genomes.
Specifically, CNVs (copy number variants, a kind of structural mutation) and mutations specific to cerebral palsy were identified in these participants and compared to the control group. Of the total 97 participants, almost 20% inherited the rare CNV mutations from either their mom or dad. An additional 7% of participants had “de novo,” or sporadic, mutations.
These findings overall help researchers better understand the mechanisms behind the onset of hereditary cerebral palsy, giving parents a more tangible “Why” behind their child’s development of cerebral palsy.
To read more about this study in Medical News Today, click here!
