Largest Cerebral Palsy Study in the World
July 16th, 2008 Posted in News, ResearchHalf way around the world, researchers from the University of Adelaide, Australia, have launched the largest study of its kind in the world. The study is focused on gaining a better understanding of the possible genetic causes of cerebral palsy. To do so, the study will gather genetic samples from 10,000 people across Australia and will require cheek swabs of mothers and their children.
Over the next two years the researchers will test 5000 participants from families affected by cerebral palsy, while the other 5000 without an affected child will consist of a control group. Lead researcher Professor Alastair MacLennan states, “[their] study will investigate a key issue behind cerebral palsy: whether genetic factors make women more vulnerable to environmental risks that affect the brain of their unborn child.” Complications such as prematurity and infections combined with genetic susceptibility means that babies could be at double jeopardy of cerebral palsy.
Researchers hope that if their research confirms there are genetic mutations that can lead to cerebral palsy, then specific disease preventions may be available for individuals. Hopefully in the future, gene therapy may allow doctors to alter the abnormal genes in a mother or fetus. They hope to get to the bottom of what causes cerebral palsy and how to cure it.
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One Response to “Largest Cerebral Palsy Study in the World”
By Andrew Brereton on Jul 22, 2008
This is good news, but it should not detract from the fact that many, many cases of cerebral palsy are caused by peri-natal hypoxia, sometimes due to medical negligence. The best and most cost effective way of cutting the number of babies who have cerebral palsy is a two pronged approach.
(1). better medical training.
(2). More effective medical accountability when ‘mistakes’ are made.