Exploring the interplay between cognition and cerebral palsy: A comprehensive review

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of permanent movement disorders that appear in early childhood which is termed as ‘‘motor-oriented’’, in the clinical setting, but the nonmotor co-morbidities often account for a substantial part of the disability and functional limitation experienced by the patient, rather than the motor component.
Despite being primarily associated with motor impairments, there is a significant interplay between cerebral palsy and cognitive functions. Besides the visible motor impairments, cognitive abilities are frequently affected but might remain unrecognised in children with mild forms. On the other hand, some severely disabled children with presumed intellectual disabilities might demonstrate normal-range reasoning capacities. Most studies on this topic have emphasized a variety of cognitive profiles (cognitive level) related to the type of cerebral palsy and the underlying brain lesions (biological level).
This comprehensive review examines the multifaceted relationship between cognition and cerebral palsy, highlighting the complexities of cognitive deficits, the impact on daily functioning, and the importance of early intervention. Also discusses about the prevalence and types of cognitive impairments. Through an extensive review of current literature, this article aims to provide a holistic understanding of how cerebral palsy affects cognitive development and functioning and cognitive functioning in children with CP from a developmental perspective.
The objectives of this study were to describe the epidemiology of cognitive impairment in CP in terms of clinical and neuroimaging associations, and to report the impact of cognitive impairment on utilization of health services and longevity would provide a basis for future decision-making around health care delivery for this group.