February 12, 2023February 17, 2023 Can you get cerebral palsy later on in life? Can you get cerebral palsy later on in life? No, you cannot get Cerebral Palsy later in life. The common belief that you can develop Cerebral Palsy later is most often attributed to the delay between childbirth and receiving an official diagnosis, which can sometimes occur years later. Does cerebral palsy affect adults? Share Now! Although the brain injury that causes cerebral palsy is nonprogressive, adults with CP can experience a variety of symptoms as they age which often depend on the type of CP they have, as well as the level. Can you just randomly get cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy can happen when that part of the brain doesn’t develop as it should, or when it is damaged right around the time of birth or very early in life. Most people with cerebral palsy are born with it. That’s called “congenital” CP. But it can also start after birth, in which case it’s called “acquired” CP. What causes sudden cerebral palsy? Some causes of acquired CP are: Infection―Infections of the brain, for example, meningitis or encephalitis during infancy. Injury―Injuries to the brain, for example, head injuries caused by motor vehicle crashes or child abuse. Can an adult suddenly get cerebral palsy? No matter the cause, CP occurs early in life. Symptoms often show up in the first years of a child’s life. There is no condition known as late-onset CP. You can’t develop this condition as an adult. Can cerebral palsy go undetected? The signs of a mild case of cerebral palsy often go unnoticed until the child reaches 3 to 5 years of age. Sometimes, it is not evident until the child enters school age. Moderate to severe cases are usually diagnosed around the age of two. What are the signs of cerebral palsy in adults? Symptoms of CP in adults muscle weakness. stiff muscles. scissor-like movements with legs when walking. paralysis. involuntary movements in hands, arms, and legs. twitching of the face and tongue. difficulty swallowing. loss of muscle tone. Who is the oldest person with cerebral palsy? When Bernadette Rivard was born with severe physical disabilities in the 1930s, some might have thought her life would be a burden. It proved to be far from it. Listen to a CBC Radio documentary on her remarkable life. Can you acquire cerebral palsy? Up to 10% of all cases of diagnosed Cerebral Palsy are acquired. It is often easier to identify the actual cause in acquired Cerebral Palsy than it is in congenital Cerebral Palsy. Acquired Cerebral Palsy can be the direct result of brain infections, bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis, accidents or injuries. What is the most significant underlying cause of cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy is caused by a brain injury or problem that occurs during pregnancy or birth or within the first 2 to 3 years of a child’s life. It can be caused by: Problems from being born too early (premature birth). Not getting enough blood, oxygen, or other nutrients before or during birth. How does cerebral palsy affect my daily life? Cerebral palsy can affect a person’s posture, balance and ability to move, communicate, eat, sleep and learn. The parts of the body affected by cerebral palsy, the level of severity and combination of symptoms can differ for each person. How does cerebral palsy affect patients as they age? Because older cerebral palsy patients have difficulty walking, they are more prone to slip and fall. Falls can cause broken bones, bruises, cuts, and muscle damage. Dental difficulties. Older cerebral patients may problems with their teeth and gums as they age. How often does cerebral palsy occur? Cerebral palsy describes a group of chronic disorders that impair a person’s ability to control body movement and posture. It occurs in two to six of every 1,000 births. Can cerebral palsy worsen? Although the specific brain injury or problem causing cerebral palsy does not worsen, the movement problems can vary over time. Cerebral palsy is caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control muscles and movement. Also Read Questions