It may also be the result of genetic mutations. No matter the cause, CP occurs early in life. There is no condition known as late-onset CP. Plus, CP is non-progressive. However, as a person living with CP ages, the condition can cause new challenges and issues.
The symptoms adults with CP experience often depend on the type of CP they have, as well as the level. Some forms of CP, such as spastic cerebral palsy, cause stiff muscles, exaggerated reflexes, and abnormal movements when walking or trying to move. CP can affect the entire body, but it may also only impact one side of it. Premature aging, as well as more pronounced mental and physical impairments, may make it seem as if CP is worsening with age. Thanks to advances in treatment and management, life expectancy for individuals with CP is nearly the same as the general population.
For example, people with CP are likely to experience premature aging. These early signs of advanced age may begin to show by the time they turn People with CP use three to five times the energy of people without the disorder to complete everyday tasks.
Over time, that strain and demand on muscles and bones can begin to wear down the body. Eventually, the overuse of joints like those in the knees, ankles, hips, and arms can lead to osteoarthritis , also called degenerative arthritis. For some individuals, premature aging may require the use of mobility aids, such as wheelchairs or crutches. For others, the ability to walk may be lost entirely.
Other signs of premature aging include increased pain, stiff muscles, and problems with the heart or lungs.
If you have CP, you may use all of your energy doing certain everyday tasks, such as climbing a small flight of stairs or sweeping the floor.
The combination of this increased energy use, plus pain, fatigue, and weakness, places a great burden on the body. People living with CP do need greater energy for every type of task, so fatigue and pain are common. However, the chronic presence of pain, fatigue, and weakness may be the clues that you have post-impairment syndrome. You can avoid the prolonged damage from high energy demands and increased fatigue by working with an occupational therapist.
These medical professionals can help you learn ways to perform daily tasks and expend less energy at the same time. Abnormalities with muscles, joints, and bones can produce discomfort during childhood, but as a person with CP ages, this discomfort can turn into pain. CP can impact the development and function of joints. It can lead to early onset osteoarthritis. It can also put excessive compression on your joints each time you use them.
These issues can lead to pain. CP wears on the body physically in many ways. The effects from this pain can worsen other symptoms. For some people, pain can be managed with preventative measures. This includes physical and occupational therapy. Speak to your health visitor or a GP if you have any concerns about your child's health or development. Symptoms like those of cerebral palsy can have a number of different causes and are not necessarily a sign of anything serious. Cerebral palsy can happen if a baby's brain does not develop normally while they're in the womb, or is damaged during or soon after birth.
There's currently no cure for cerebral palsy, but treatments are available to help people with the condition be as active and independent as possible. A team of healthcare professionals will work with you to come up with a treatment plan that meets your or your child's needs. Read more about treatments for cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy affects each person differently and it can be difficult to predict what the outlook will be for you or your child.
When children with cerebral palsy mature into adults, however, they face new challenges. As individuals with cerebral palsy get older, the condition itself will not worsen, but that does not mean they will not encounter any changes.
These are some of the most common challenges adults with cerebral palsy will experience:. Cerebral palsy is not a life-threatening condition and, if any of these symptoms persist, there are ways to manage them through various forms of therapy, alternative treatment methods, or even surgery.
This is a common issue adults living with this disability experience, typically occurring between the ages of 20 and 40 as a result of the excess strain and stress their bodies endure to perform everyday tasks.
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