Children with Cerebral Palsy Life Expectancy

When a person has a disability such as cerebral palsy, it leads many to wonder if it will affect that person's longevity. Cerebral palsy life expectancy rates are hard to determine. People with the condition may be affected by numerous cerebral palsy complications that can affect their health and alter the course of their life. Let's examine cerebral palsy life expectancy issues more closely.
Some mental illnesses and neurological conditions come with an associated shorter length of life. What is true if you or your child is affected cerebral palsy? How does cerebral palsy affect your lifespan, if at all?
Early in the 20th century, few people affected by cerebral palsy survived into adulthood. Advances in medical technology fortunately help most people with cerebral palsy live into adulthood. This increase in life expectancy, however, comes with added health challenges faced later in life.
In general, people with cerebral palsy live to be anywhere from 30 to 70 years old. The less severe the symptoms they experience, the longer you are likely to live.
There has not been extensive study performed on the life expectancy of people with cerebral palsy. One study conducted by Strauss, Brooks, Rosenbloom, and Shavelle in 2008 (and published in the 50th volume of the 2008 edition of Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology) revealed the following:
In general, males and females with mild cerebral palsy have lifespans significantly shorter than the general population
The more severe the symptoms of cerebral palsy, the shorter the person’s life expectancy
Young adult males and females fed by tube or by other people have a far shorter life expectancy than the general population
Individuals who cannot lift their heads as young adults have a much shorter life span than the general population
Individuals with cerebral palsy who walk unaided have the longest lifespans, which are slightly shorter than lifespans in the general population
Extensive research targeting life expectancy more precisely still must be performed. These researchers admit their research methodology is not perfect, although other researchers have found similar results.
Unfortunately, the increased life expectancy comes along with significant medical challenges and other impairments in functioning. Many of these are present at a much earlier age than you would find in the general population.
cerebral palsy complications are common in most people with the condition. In fact, most have some degree of gross motor function loss with age. If the person or their caregiver proactively addresses these losses, it may increase the person's life expectancy. The fact is, the ability to walk is believed to increase the life expectancy for those with cerebral palsy. Although at some point most people with cerebral palsy will lose their ability to walk.

Once a person has lost their mobility, they can maintain their health in a number of ways. They need to take part in muscle strengthening exercises and pay close attention to nutrition and leading a healthy lifestyle. There are many surgical treatments, therapies, and medicines that can be of use as well.