A new study has identified genes which may be partially responsible for the development of cerebral palsy, adding a new dimension to understanding its risk factors and causes.  

Cerebral palsy (CP), a condition that affects the development of motor skills in children, is the most common childhood-onset physical disability with more than 46,000 people impacted in Ontario alone. CP can have different causes, such as infections, injuries, or lack of oxygen before or during birth, but until now, the genetic contributors to CP have remained largely unknown.   

Recent research published in Nature Genetics, from a multi-site Canadian project with the involvement of Dr. Darcy Fehlings, Dr. Stephen Sherer, and Dr. Richard Wintle of the Childhood Cerebral Palsy Integrated Neuroscience Discovery Network (CP-NET), an Ontario Brain Institute Integrated Discovery Program, provides a more detailed look into the genetic causes of the condition. Findings from the study suggest the existence of many genetic variants contributing to CP.