Overview
The study will describe the natural history of cerebral palsy (CP) as children develop over the first 2 years of life.
Description
This study aims to describe the early natural history of cerebral palsy (CP) by mapping the development of infants with, or at-risk of CP, over the first two years of life. Infants will be assessed at regular intervals up to 24 months of age, across a variety of childhood development to provide the first comprehensive developmental trajectories of this group. In doing so, it will contribute to the existing knowledge of CP development to assist clinicians and therapists with accurate information on prognosis and provide targeted interventions early and at the 'just-right' challenge. Where indicated, individual participants' results from this study will be used to inform their therapy. This study is intended to form part of a larger multi-site international study.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Infants will be included if they have a diagnosis of CP or "at high risk of CP" and under the age of 12 months.
- Infants at high risk of CP as defined by any two (any combination) of the following:
- Neuroimaging predictive of a motor disability including the involvement of 1 or more of the following structures: sensori-motor cortex, Basal Ganglia, Posterior Limb of the Internal Capsule, pyramids.
- Trajectory of cramped synchronized general movements (GMs) on General Movement Assessment (GMA) OR absent fidgety GMs at fidgety age
- Hammersmith Infant Neurological Exam (HINE) scores <57 @ 3months or <60 @ 6months
or <63 @9 months
Infants will also be included if they meet BOTH of the following criteria (even if infants have a HINE score greater than the cut off scores stated above:
- Unilateral brain injury on neuroimaging (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or
cranial ultrasound (CUS)) predictive of CP ii. Clinical signs of asymmetry
Exclusion Criteria:
- Infants with progressive or neurodegenerative disorders or genetic disorders not
associated with CP
- Infants with other disability diagnoses e.g. Down Syndrome