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Mild stress in the womb may worsen risk of cerebral palsy
July 11, 2007
Chronic mild stress in pregnant mothers may increase the risk that their offspring will develop cerebral palsy-a group of neurological disorders marked by physical disability-according to new research in mice. The results may be the first to demonstrate such effects of stress on animals in the womb. The new study, led by Pierre Gressens, MD, PhD, of Inserm in France, used a mouse model to test whether exposure to minimal but repeated stress throughout gestation would make the offspring more vulnerable to brain lesions similar to those observed in children with cerebral palsy. The findings are published in the July 11 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. Inserm, l'Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale, is the French public biomedical research agency.
"These findings are consistent with growing evidence that constant stress, even minimal, can have a major impact on the quality of life," says Victoria Luine, PhD, distinguished professor of psychology at New York's Hunter College, who did not participate in the research.
In the study, the scientists adjusted the normal cycle of light and dark that the pregnant mice were accustomed to for half of the mice, subjecting them to a mild level of stress. Then the researchers exposed the brains of the developing fetuses to injury. When the brains of the young mice were examined on birth, Gressens and his team found that the offspring born from stressed mothers showed brain lesions about twice as big as those in offspring of unstressed mothers.
"Determining the impact of gestational stress on the incidence of cerebral palsy would be of paramount interest," says Gressens. "Limiting stress during human pregnancy might prove to be a cost-efficient way to reduce the human, emotional, social and economic burden of cerebral palsy."
Society for Neuroscience
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Teaching Motor Skills to Children With Cerebral Palsy And Similar Movement Disorders: A Guide for Parents And Professionals
by Sieglinde Martin (Author)
(2007 Independent Publisher Award Bronze Medalist, Health/Medicine/Nutrition category) All children with cerebral palsy and other conditions that result in gross motor delays need help and reinforcement to learn basic motor skills, usually with assistance from a physical therapist. Because the degree of developmental delay varies greatly from child to child, a thorough motor evaluation is an important step before establishing a specific therapy plan. This new guide, written by an experienced physical therapist, provides parents with a complete understanding of how the physical characteristics of cerebral palsy and similar conditions--muscle tightness and weakness, increased or decreased flexibility, abnormal reflexes, impaired sensory perception--affect a child's ability to sit,...
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Cerebral Palsy: A Complete Guide for Caregiving (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)
by Freeman Miller MD (Author), Steven J. Bachrach MD (Author)
When a child has a health problem, parents want answers. But when a child has cerebral palsy, the answers don't come quickly. A diagnosis of this complex group of chronic conditions affecting movement and coordination is difficult to make and is typically delayed until the child is eighteen months old. Although the condition may be mild or severe, even general predictions about long-term prognosis seldom come before the child's second birthday. Written by a team of experts associated with the Cerebral Palsy Program at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, this authoritative resource provides parents and families with vital information that can help them cope with uncertainty. Thoroughly updated and revised to incorporate the latest medical advances, the second edition is a...
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Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Parents' Guide
by Elaine Geralis (Editor)
A revised and updated edition of this classic primer for parents provides a complete spectrum of information and compassionate advice about cerebral palsy and its effect on their child's development and education. The second edition, written by the same team of medical specialists, therapists, educators, and parents, covers these important areas: Diagnosis, Medical Issues, Family Life, Legal Rights, Early Intervention, Coping, Therapies, Treatment, Development, Advocacy, Special Education, Daily Care. New to this edition is information on the latest treatments for seizures; medications for muscle spasticity and drooling; treatments for gastroesophageal reflux; communication devices and toys; advice on dealing with insurance companies; inclusion during preschool years and...
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Children With Cerebral Palsy: A Manual for Therapists, Parents and Community Workers (Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Manual for Therapists, Parents,) ... Palsy: A Manual for Therapists, Parents,)
by Archie Hinchcliffe (Author)
This book is a practical guide to the effective treatment of cerebral palsy in children. It provides a set of principles by which to observe and analyze individual patients' problems and then plan treatment. With the help of this book, non-specialists working with children with cerebral palsy can make decisions and choose the appropriate therapeutic activities for each child. It includes examples of how to apply these principles to real-life situations, using easy-to-follow descriptions and illustrations. New to this revised edition is a chapter on sensory integration problems with children with cerebral palsy, which looks at ways of evaluating and then dealing with these problems. The author also integrates theory with practical skills more closely.
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The Heart's Alphabet: Daring to Live with Cerebral Palsy
by James Grimm (Author)
Having never uttered a word in his life, 40-year-old Jim Grimm profoundly and joyfully touches the lives of all who come to know him. Born with cerebral palsy and unable to communicate verbally or move of his own volition, Jim has turned what by all accounts is a severely isolating lifelong disability into a gift for connecting deeply with others. The Heart's Alphabet is Jim's self-told story, painstakingly spelled out, letter by letter, with the assistance of an interpreter. It is a tale of personal perseverance, a tribute to loving families, and -- most of all -- a testament to the possibilities that lie within each of us.
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Nathan's Wish: A Story About Cerebral Palsy
by Laurie Lears (Author), Stacey Schuett (Illustrator)
Nathan lives next door to Miss Sandy, a raptor rehabilitator. She’s very busy taking care of injured birds of prey, like owls and hawks. Nathan wishes he could help Miss Sandy with some of her chores, but he is confined to his wheelchair because of cerebral palsy. Then Fire, an owl with a broken wing, comes to Miss Sandy. Fire is desperate to fly and Nathan can’t wait for Fire to get her wish. But on the day Fire tries to fly, she cannot do it. Miss Sandy says the owl’s wing will never be strong enough. The light goes out in Fire’s eyes and she stops eating. Nathan desperately searches for a way to help Fire, not realizing that what he finds will help transform his life as well.
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Physical Therapy of Cerebral Palsy
by Freeman Miller (Editor)
This book is a derivative of Dr. Miller’s well-regarded Cerebral Palsy and focuses on rehabilitation techniques. The book discusses the theory and techniques used by physical and occupational therapists, and also provides suggestions for implementing an Individual Education Plan. Tables and algorithms are included to help in the decision-making process for determining what treatment would be most beneficial. Chapters in section one deal with fundamental aspects of cerebral palsy management, from understanding motor impairment, to evaluating equipment use, to navigating the relationship with the families of patients. In section two, physical therapists cover specific rehabilitation techniques, including neurodevelopment therapy, hippotherapy, and assistive devices. On the accompanying...
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Olympian Labs Magnesium Citrate, .5lbs Glass (Pack of 2)
by Olympian Labs
Magnesium is one of the most abundant minerals in soft tissues and is a vital catalyst in enzyme activity, especially the activity of those enzymes involved in energy production. Magnesium functions in the conversion of carbohydrates, protein, and fats to energy. It also plays a role in the synthesis of the genetic material within each cell and removal of excess toxic substances. Poor magnesium intake affects all tissues, especially tissues of the heart, nerves and kidneys. Deficiencies of this mineral may interfere with the transmission of nerve and muscle impulses, causing irritability and nervousness.
Warning Signals: Check with your doctor before you take any dietary supplement, including vitamins and minerals. If your doctor starts you on a supplement, watch for warning...
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ABC News 20/20 A Moving Journey
ABC News correspondent Bob Brown profiles the remarkable Bill Porter of Portland, Oregon. Born with cerebral palsy, Porter nonetheless became a door-to-door salesman in Portland, struggling up to 10 miles a day on foot while selling household products for the Watkins Company. Friendly and persistent, in time Porter became the top grossing Watkins salesman in the United States. His story was told in the 2002 TNT cable movie Door To Door, with actor William H. Macy as Porter and Kyra Sedgwick as Porter's friend and assistant, Shelly Brady.This product is manufactured on demand using DVD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.
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My Perfect Son Has Cerebral Palsy: A Mother's Guide of Helpful Hints
by Marie A. Kennedy (Author)
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