Basic scientific and animal research is helping us discern the underlying brain mechanisms that cause or increase the risk of developing Cerebral Palsy (CP), investigate novel treatment strategies, and gain a better understanding of how and why current therapies work.
Despite the common use of Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT), researchers poorly understand how it works (it's mechanism of action). Using established rodent models of hemiplegic CP; researchers have been able to study how to improve CIMT with stem cell based regenerative approaches. The researchers have three main hypothesises:
- CIMT stimulates stem/precursor cells already present in the brain to generate new cells in the brain.
- Added (exogenous) stem/precursor cells can enhance recovery and improve efficacy of CIMT.
- Pharmacological drugs can help stimulate stem/precursor cells already present in the brain to enhance recovery and improve efficacy of CIMT.
Inflammation can affect the brain. And this brain inflammation may be associated with the development of CP. However, we don’t have a good understanding of how this happens. Researchers are uncovering the mechanisms of how inflammation in the brain is related to CP using mice. Researchers are also investigating how to modulate these mechanisms with treatment (using an inflammatory antibody called IgG). Researchers think that IgG will reduce inflammation following injury to the brain and promote recovery in CP. To test this, the effects of IgG on mouse models developing CP are being studied.