Brain lesion extent, growth, and body composition in children with cerebral palsy

Abstract

This study looked at how brain injuries seen on magnetic resonance imaging relate to growth and body composition in children with cerebral palsy (CP). We followed 124 children aged 18 months to 13 years from across Queensland, Australia, and measured their height, weight, head size, lean mass (muscle and bone), and fat mass and compared it to children with typical development of the same age and sex. We also assessed the size and location of their brain injuries using a new scoring system.

We found that children with more extensive brain injuries tended to be shorter, weigh less, and have smaller head sizes. However, the amount of lean and fat mass in their bodies was not linked to the size of their brain injury. This suggests that brain injury may affect how children with CP grow, but not necessarily how their body is made up in terms of lean and fat mass.

We also found that children with more severe movement difficulties (measured by the Gross Motor Function Classification System [GMFCS]) had different growth and body composition patterns. For example, children with the greatest motor impairment (GMFCS level V) gained more fat over time, even if their weight appeared typical for their age. This could have long-term health effects.