Is advanced maternal age linked to cerebral palsy? Research does not show a strong or direct link between a mother’s older age and cerebral palsy in her child. Cerebral palsy mainly comes from brain damage or issues during pregnancy, birth, or early infancy, with infections playing a big role rather than age alone.
Cerebral palsy affects movement and muscle tone because of non-progressive brain injury early in life. Common causes include lack of oxygen at birth, preterm delivery, low birth weight, and severe infections. For example, infections like rubella, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, Zika virus, herpes simplex, syphilis, and chorioamnionitis can cross the placenta and harm the fetal brain. These risks tie more to health during pregnancy than to the mother’s age.
Maternal infections during pregnancy often stem from fever, untreated urinary or vaginal issues, placental problems, poor prenatal care, or exposures like smoking and alcohol. At birth, prolonged labor or low oxygen adds risk. After birth, things like meningitis, encephalitis, sepsis, severe jaundice, or breathing problems in newborns can lead to cerebral palsy, especially in premature babies with weak immunity.
While advanced maternal age, often over 35, raises chances of preterm birth or low birth weight, these factors do not directly prove a link to cerebral palsy in studies. Other maternal issues, like obesity before pregnancy, connect to higher neurodevelopmental risks such as epilepsy, but not specifically cerebral palsy. Psychological stress after birth may affect toddler development, yet it stands apart from age-related causes.
Prevention focuses on good prenatal care, vaccinations, treating infections early, and monitoring newborns in NICU if needed. Therapies like physiotherapy help manage symptoms once diagnosed.
Sources
https://www.pediatricorthopedicdoctor.in/2025/12/25/severe-infections-in-infants-leading-to-cerebral-palsy-causes-early-signs-and-prevention/
https://www.medlink.com/news/how-maternal-distress-affects-neurologic-development-in-children
https://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/news/maternal-obesity-neurodevelopmental-disorders/
https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pd.70049
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12745186/
https://childrenscerebralpalsy.com/news/
