Studies and research on cerebral palsy usually focus on how the disorder affects children. Information about aging and cerebral palsy is scant, but increasing. Since cerebral palsy affects each victim differently, there is no standard expectation about how the disorder affects the aging process.

People with cerebral palsy usually have close to a normal lifespan unless they are heavily afflicted. Cerebral palsy is a non-degenerative disorder, meaning it does not get worse with aging. As people with cerebral palsy age, any increase in symptoms is usually related to the havoc the disorder has wreaked on their body, not aging itself.

It's commonly accepted that physical and mental health decline with the aging process. Actually, it's a misconception that severe physical decline in elderly people is a result of aging. Changes brought about from aging are minimal. The majority of physical and mental deficiencies occur as a result of physical changes caused by disease, abuse or disuse of our bodies. Since people with cerebral palsy spend a lifetime fighting physical impairment, their aging changes become apparent much earlier. Function decreases as much from these changes as it does from the actual aging process.

Characteristics of Aging and Cerebral Palsy

Aging includes characteristics such as increased fatigue, declining mobility and strength deficiencies. Most non-disabled people begin to experience problems associated with aging when they reach their sixties or seventies. Studies show most people with cerebral palsy start experiencing the effects of aging much earlier. Since cerebral palsy symptoms affect mobility and strength, any additional deficiency is especially troublesome in the elderly. Some physical problems people with cerebral palsy have been known to experience with aging include:

Symptoms of Aging and Cerebral Palsy

* Decline in dental health from poor dental maintenance in youth
* Accumulative negative effects from the long term use of medications
* Declining mobility from muscle and bone loss
* Early onset arthritis caused by excessive joint wear and tear
* Increased respiratory problems
* Incontinence
* Skin deterioration from pressure sores or inadequate positioning
* Accelerated loss of independence
* Slower healing fractures and breaks from early on set osteoporosis
* Weakness caused by a lifetime of poor nutrition intake

Aging changes in our bodies and energy levels not only affect us physically, but mentally as well. The loss of independence which often accompanies aging can lead to depression and isolation. As the body deteriorates, a person's ability to work is affected. If a person with cerebral palsy is forced to quit work because of aging, they lose an important source of social interaction. Energy required to manage day to day tasks wanes as the body ages. Older cerebral palsy victims must often start to divert energy used for social interaction into just getting through daily challenges.
Maintenance of Physical Function for People with Cerebral Palsy

Maintenance of physical function should be a daily goal for aging individuals with cerebral palsy. Increasing physical function helps reduce the effects of cerebral palsy and aging while increasing current quality of life.

Treatment of Cerebral Palsy in the Elderly

* Follow your heath care team's advice about diet and exercise
* Use good posture while seated in wheelchairs
* Participate in regular exams and check ups
* Measure and record your level of physical function
* Avoid non-nutritious foods
* Take vitamins and nutritional supplements if needed
* Avoid excessive weight gain
* Consistently stretch and exercise to decrease muscle tightness
* Use assistive technology to increase mobility

Cerebral Palsy Health Care Service Issues and Aging

Serious study of aging and cerebral palsy is in its infancy and practitioners with needed experience to explore cerebral palsy aging issues are rare. While there are many doctors who are experts in Gerontology, few who also have extensive knowledge of cerebral palsy. The majority of doctors with experience in cerebral palsy work with young patients and don't have experience in gerontology.

Some organizations like The American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine are working to help close the knowledge gap. By offering seminars and teaching material covering both aging and cerebral palsy, they are slowly educating heath professionals about how each affects the other. This group and others help research aging issues and publicize their findings for others to review. Eventually, the accumulation of knowledge will allow for a more thorough understanding of how best to help an aging person with cerebral palsy.