Premature babies at greater risk of cerebral palsy - study
Cerebral palsy can be caused by abnormal brain development, often before birth and can cause severe physical disability.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF15-month-old Do Quang Tu who suffers from cerebral palsy, receives acupuncture treatment at Vietnam Acupuncture Hospital in Hanoi(photo credit: REUTERS)
Babies who are born prematurely are at greater risk for cerebral palsy, according to a study conducted by researchers from Ben-Gurion University and Soroka University Medical Center Researchers, a press release said on Sunday. The study, published in Journal of Clinical Medicine, concluded that researchers "identified the critical thresholds for pre-term delivery that increase the chances of long-term hospitalizations for cerebral palsy and other pediatric neurological disorders," according to the press release. Cerebral palsy is a congenital disorder of movement or posture. Symptoms can include poor coordination, stiff and weak muscles, and tremors. It can also effect "perception, cognition, [and] communication." Cerebral palsy can be caused by abnormal brain development, which can often occur before birth, and can cause severe childhood physical disability.It also concluded that babies born prematurely before 25 weeks were at risk of developing serious neurological issues and increased cerebral palsy rates. Last month, it was reported that people who test positive for COVID and also have cerebral palsy are at higher risk of dying from the virus.
