Cerebral palsy is a common complication of very premature birth. The condition is a type of brain injury that causes problems with motor function. It's been a baffling disorder for doctors because of confusion over what causes the brain injury.
Doctors still don't know what surefire steps to take to prevent the condition. However, a study published Thursday suggests that general improvements in the care of infants just before, during and after delivery are making a difference. Researchers in the Netherlands studied almost 3,000 infants born prematurely between 1990 and 2005. Cerebral palsy rates declined 6.5% from the start of that period compared with the years from 2002-05. The study also found a decrease in the severity of cases. The decreases in cases and severity were mostly due to a significant decline in injuries called white matter lesions in the brain. Studies in other populations have detected reductions, too, in recent years, including the United States and Canada.
