Can newborn seizures lead to cerebral palsy? Yes, newborn seizures can contribute to the development of cerebral palsy, often as part of brain injuries that happen around birth, though they do not always cause it on their own.
Newborn seizures happen in about 1 in 300 infants. These are sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain that cause jerking, stiffening, or other unusual movements in babies. They often signal an underlying problem like lack of oxygen to the brain, known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or infections such as meningitis or sepsis. When these issues damage the brain, they raise the risk of permanent problems, including cerebral palsy, which affects movement and muscle control.
Studies show a clear link between neonatal seizures and cerebral palsy. For example, babies with seizures at birth, especially those who also had trouble breathing or no cry at birth, face higher chances of severe cerebral palsy. These seizures can worsen brain injury if not treated quickly, leading to outcomes like motor delays, stiff or floppy muscles, and developmental setbacks. In fact, mounting evidence suggests that the seizures themselves add to the brain damage, increasing the odds of cerebral palsy along with issues like epilepsy or learning delays.
Cerebral palsy and seizures often go hand in hand. About 35 to 45 percent of children with cerebral palsy also have epilepsy, and many of those seizures start in the first year of life. Up to 70 percent of kids with both conditions have their first seizure before age one. Common types in these babies include full-body stiffening and jerking or sudden head drops. Early treatment of seizures with medicines like levetiracetam aims to limit further harm and improve long-term results.
Other factors around birth boost this risk. Home deliveries without medical help, high birth weight over 4000 grams, jaundice, or infections like encephalitis make severe cerebral palsy more likely when seizures occur. Premature babies or those in the neonatal intensive care unit are especially vulnerable because their brains are still developing.
Doctors stress quick action. Spotting seizures early allows for brain scans like MRI or new tools such as a special monitoring cap that checks oxygen and blood flow in the brain without moving the baby. These help confirm damage and start therapies sooner, which can ease symptoms of cerebral palsy.
Parents should watch for signs like delayed head control by 3 or 4 months, one-sided weakness, or poor response to sounds. Regular checkups for at-risk newborns give the best shot at better outcomes.
Sources
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12748543/
https://www.orangehealthcare.in/uncategorized/severe-infections-in-infants-leading-to-cerebral-palsy-causes-early-signs-and-prevention/
https://nybirthinjury.com/caring-for-child-epilepsy-and-cerebral-palsy/
https://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com/blog/new-swimming-cap-early-diagnosis-of-cerebral-palsy-in-infants/
https://cerebralpalsyguidance.com/2025/12/12/researchers-use-mri-to-diagnose-find-causes-of-cerebral-palsy-in-children/
https://aesnet.org/abstractslisting/a-phase-2-dose-escalation-study-of-levetiracetam-in-the-treatment-of-neonatal-seizures-preliminary-results
https://www.nationalbirthinjurylaw.com/cerebral-palsy-symptoms
