A risk factor is not a cause; it is a variable which, when present, increases the chance of something occurring -- in this case, cerebral palsy. Just because a risk factor is present does not mean cerebral palsy WILL occur; nor does the absence of a risk factor mean that cerebral palsy will NOT occur. If a risk factor is present, it serves to alert the parents and physicians to be even more observant to the infant's development.

In a recently published study in the Journal of Pediatrics, a group of investigators found the following factors are associated with an increased risk of cerebral palsy:

The Parents

• Mother 40 yrs. or older
• Mother under 20 yrs.
• Father under 20 yrs.
• African-American

The Child

• A first child or child born fifth or more
• One of a twin (particularly if one twin died)
• Low birth weight (less than 3.5 lbs.)
• Premature (less than 37 weeks)

The following individual factors were not associated with an increased risk of cerebral palsy:

• Hispanic
• Asian
• Gender of the child (except for very low birth weight boys)
• Prenatal care
• Type of medical care facility

It needs to be recognized that more than one risk factor can be present at the same time (e.g.: low birth weight and being a twin), the combination of which can further increase the probabilitv of cerebral palsy occurring.