Cerebral Palsy Insights and Trends

• Children and adolescents with cerebral palsy are prone to fragility fractures, particularly those who are non-weight-bearing. The risk of fractures is higher among patients with height-for-age below −3 SD or those receiving antiepileptic therapy. 

• As per estimates from the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, about 1 in 345 children (3 per 1,000 8-year-old children) in the United States have been identified with cerebral palsy. More than half of the children identified with cerebral palsy could walk independently. 

• Studies report an annual fracture incidence of ~4% among children and adolescents with non-ambulatory cerebral palsy, with more than 75% of fractures occurring in the lower extremities.

Cerebral Palsy Epidemiology Forecast in the 7MM

• 2025 Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Cerebral Palsy: ~XX

• 2036 Projected Diagnosed Prevalent Cases of Cerebral Palsy: ~XX

• Cerebral Palsy  Growth Rate (2026–2036): ~XX% CAGR

DelveInsight's ‘Cerebral Palsy Epidemiology Forecast – 2036’ report delivers an in-depth understanding of Cerebral Palsy, historical and forecasted epidemiology, in the United States, EU4 (Germany, Spain, Italy, and France) and the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Cerebral Palsy Understanding 

Cerebral Palsy Overview 

Cerebral palsy is a group of permanent neurological disorders caused by early brain injury or abnormal brain development, leading to impaired movement, posture, muscle tone, and coordination. It is a non-progressive condition, but functional limitations may change over time. CP is mainly classified into spastic (70–80%), dyskinetic (10–20%), and ataxic (5–10%) types. Spastic CP is characterized by increased muscle tone and abnormal gait, dyskinetic CP by involuntary movements, and ataxic CP by poor balance and coordination. Patients often present with associated conditions such as seizures, intellectual disability, and speech, vision, or hearing impairments, with severity varying widely.

Further details are provided in the report.

Cerebral Palsy Diagnosis

Diagnosis of cerebral palsy is a clinical, multi-step process based on developmental surveillance, neurological examination, and neuroimaging, rather than a single definitive test. It is most often identified within the first 2 years of life, although milder cases may be confirmed later after ongoing monitoring of motor milestones, muscle tone, posture, reflexes, and coordination. Screening tools such as APGAR scoring at birth and routine developmental assessments (9, 18, and 24 months) help detect early delays. Confirmation is supported by imaging, with MRI as the preferred modality (abnormal in >80% of cases), while CT and cranial ultrasound assist in identifying structural brain abnormalities in infants. EEG and genetic/metabolic testing may be used to rule out seizures or alternative neuromuscular and metabolic disorders, ensuring accurate differential diagnosis.

Further details are provided in the report.

Cerebral Palsy Epidemiology

Key Findings from Cerebral Palsy Epidemiological Analysis and Forecast 

• Cerebral palsy is the most common motor disability in childhood. Several population-based studies worldwide report prevalence estimates ranging from 1 to nearly 4 cases per 1,000 live births or per 1,000 children.

• Dyskinetic cerebral palsy is the second most common subtype after spastic forms, while ataxic cerebral palsy is the least common type and is characterized by uncoordinated and jerky movements.

• Spastic cerebral palsy is the most prevalent subtype, accounting for approximately 71–82% of all cerebral palsy cases, with prevalence estimates ranging from 2.6 to 3.0 cases per 1,000 children.

• Children and adolescents with Cerebral Palsy are at increased risk of fragility fractures, particularly in non-weight-bearing patients, with higher fracture risk observed in those with severe growth impairment or receiving antiepileptic therapy.

• In France, cerebral palsy affects approximately 2 per 1,000 newborns, corresponding to nearly 1,500 new cases annually. Prevalence increases to approximately 5–8% among very preterm infants or those with very low birth weight.

Scope of the Report

• The report covers a segment of a descriptive overview of cerebral palsy, explaining its causes, signs and symptoms, and pathogenesis.

• Comprehensive insight has been provided into the epidemiology segments and forecasts, the future growth potential of the diagnosis rate, and disease progression. 

Report Insights

Cerebral Palsy Patient Population Forecast

Report Key Strengths

• Epidemiology‑based (Epi‑based) Bottom‑up Forecasting

• 11-year Forecast 

• Patient Burden Trends (by geography)

FAQs

• What are the disease risks, burdens, and unmet needs of cerebral palsy? What will be the growth opportunities across the 7MM concerning the patient population with cerebral palsy?

• What is the historical and forecasted cerebral palsy patient pool in the US, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain), the UK, and Japan?

Reasons to Buy

• Insights on patient burden/disease prevalence, evolution in diagnosis, and factors contributing to the change in the epidemiology of the disease during the forecast years.

• To understand key opinion leaders’ perspectives on the diagnostic challenges to overcome barriers in the future.

• Detailed insights into various factors hampering disease diagnosis and other existing diagnostic challenges.