Cerebral Palsy

Causes & Prevention

What Is A Risk Factor?

Since most diseases have identifiable "risk factors," we should know exactly what that means. Here are the important points:

  • A risk factor is not a cause.
  • A risk factor is a variable which, when present, increases the chance of something occurring.

Risk factors are signals of possibilities or potential problems. They are like red flags to catch our attention.

Causes and Risk Factors for Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Because CP is a group of disorders with similar problems in control of movement, it has a variety of causes.

Congenital cerebral palsy, results from brain injury during intra-uterine life. It is present at birth, although it may not be detected for months. It is responsible for about 70% of children who have cerebral palsy. An additional 20 % are diagnosed with congenital cerebral palsy due to a brain injury during the birthing process. In most cases, the cause of congenital cerebral palsy is unknown.

What Does It Mean When Medical Experts Say "Race" Is A Risk Factor For Certain Diseases?

Editor's Note:

"Race" is sometimes mentioned as a risk factor in the development of certain cancers and a number of other diseases. When you read this in a discussion about an illness, note that the explanation seldom refers to anything biological. Instead, it usually refers to behavior, such as eating habits. The kinds of behavior usually mentioned as risk factors are culturally determined. They are not genetic or biological.