# Does Prematurity Cause Cerebral Palsy Risk?
Premature birth is one of the strongest known risk factors for cerebral palsy, a condition affecting movement and muscle control. Babies born before their due date face significantly higher chances of developing this lifelong neurological condition, though not all premature infants will develop cerebral palsy.
The connection between early birth and cerebral palsy is well-established in medical research. Premature babies account for anywhere between 33 percent and 50 percent of all cases of cerebral palsy. One research review examining medical records of 206 children with cerebral palsy found that over half, or 54.4 percent, were born prematurely. The risk becomes even more pronounced for the most extremely premature infants. Babies born before 28 weeks of pregnancy face the highest risk, with research suggesting that up to 15 percent of all babies born between 24 and 27 weeks of pregnancy may develop cerebral palsy.
Why does prematurity increase this risk? Premature babies have underdeveloped organs, including the brain, heart, and lungs. This puts them at higher risk for brain injuries like hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, or HIE, which occurs when the brain does not receive enough oxygen. The developing brain of a premature infant is more vulnerable to injury during the critical early weeks and months of life.
Several complications associated with premature birth can directly contribute to cerebral palsy development. Placental problems like placental insufficiency or placental abruption can deprive the baby of oxygen and nutrients before birth, leading to premature delivery and low birth weight. Umbilical cord problems can increase the chances of birth asphyxia, which causes fetal distress and brain injuries. After birth, premature infants face additional risks from infections like meningitis, encephalitis, and sepsis, which can damage the developing brain.
Research tracking extremely premature infants born before 27 weeks of pregnancy found that about 22 percent had moderate cerebral palsy, while 14 percent had the most severe forms. However, researchers noted that improvements in medical care are allowing more extremely premature infants to survive, including those at highest risk. Better neonatal care, including treatments like therapeutic hypothermia or brain cooling, has helped reduce the severity of outcomes for some premature babies.
Several specific health complications increase cerebral palsy risk in premature infants. Lower birth weight, late-onset sepsis, higher grades of bleeding in the brain ventricles, death of small areas of brain tissue surrounding the ventricles, and severe lung disease requiring ventilator support all raise the risk. Understanding these risk factors helps medical teams identify which babies need the closest monitoring and earliest intervention.
The good news is that many infection-related causes of cerebral palsy can be prevented with timely medical intervention. Early diagnosis and proper medical care, including vaccination and developmental monitoring, significantly reduce risks. Children have the best outcomes when they receive an early diagnosis because this allows for early interventions that more effectively impact the developing brain.
Cerebral palsy itself is caused by damage to the motor control centers of the developing brain, and while prematurity is a major risk factor, the causes of most cases remain unknown. The condition can result from abnormal brain development before birth or brain damage before, during, or just after birth. Genetic factors also play a role, with research showing that about one quarter of all children with cerebral palsy have genetic factors involved.
Sources
https://cchp.ucsf.edu/resources/fact-sheets-families/cerebral-palsy
https://www.nationalbirthinjurylaw.com/what-causes-cerebral-palsy
