Can cerebral palsy develop after neonatal seizures? Yes, neonatal seizures can be linked to the development of cerebral palsy, though they often signal underlying brain injuries rather than causing CP on their own.
Neonatal seizures are bursts of abnormal electrical activity in a newborn baby’s brain, happening in about 1 in 300 infants. These seizures frequently stem from issues like lack of oxygen during birth, known as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy or HIE. HIE damages brain cells and is a leading cause of cerebral palsy, a condition that affects muscle control and movement due to non-progressive brain damage early in life. For instance, when a baby experiences birth asphyxia, it can lead to HIE, neonatal seizures, and later CP symptoms like stiff muscles or delayed walking.
Studies show that while many babies with provoked neonatal seizures go on to have normal development, a significant group faces risks. In one multicenter study of children followed to ages 5 to 6, about 24 percent had multi-domain impairments, including a high chance of cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and cognitive issues. Abnormal newborn neurologic exams and early developmental delays raised the odds of these poor outcomes. Another analysis found neonatal convulsions more common in babies who later developed CP after perinatal asphyxia, though not always statistically significant, pointing to seizure activity as a marker of severe brain damage.
CP itself usually traces back to brain injuries around birth or shortly after, not solely from seizures. Causes include oxygen deprivation, infections like meningitis, severe jaundice leading to kernicterus, or bleeding in the brain. Neonatal seizures might appear as an early sign, alongside other red flags like poor muscle tone or feeding trouble. Premature babies or those with low birth weight face higher risks, as their brains are more vulnerable.
Not every baby with neonatal seizures develops CP. Research highlights that two-thirds of affected kids show typical development by school age, but behavioral issues or attention problems can still arise. Genetic factors, like certain variants in the MMP2 gene, may influence who develops lasting damage after events like asphyxia. Early monitoring with tools like advanced imaging caps could spot risks sooner, allowing therapies to support brain recovery during its most plastic phase.
Treating neonatal seizures promptly with drugs like levetiracetam aims to limit brain injury and improve long-term results, reducing chances of CP or developmental delays. Families should watch for ongoing signs and seek regular checkups.
Sources
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41482857/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12731818/
https://www.nationalbirthinjurylaw.com/what-causes-cerebral-palsy
https://cchp.ucsf.edu/resources/fact-sheets-families/cerebral-palsy
https://www.cerebralpalsyguide.com/blog/new-swimming-cap-early-diagnosis-of-cerebral-palsy-in-infants/
https://aesnet.org/abstractslisting/a-phase-2-dose-escalation-study-of-levetiracetam-in-the-treatment-of-neonatal-seizures-preliminary-results
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apa.70421?af=R
