In the world of those dealing with cerebral palsy and their families and friends, even the barest promise of advances in treatment or research, as well as positive technological advancements to improve the quality of life, is looked upon as welcome. This includes even controversial research and scientific studies involving the effects of stem cells.

A clinical trial recently conducted at Duke University in North Carolina involving 12 children dealing with CP has so far shown more promise than anyone could have hoped. In fact, the research has been such a success that the clinical trial will be expanded to include 40 children over the course of 24 months. The Duke University research focuses on studying the effects of infusing a child born with cerebral palsy with blood that was taken from his own umbilical cord. So far this study has been relegated only to children whose parents had their cord blood stored in a private bank. Research on animals convinced doctors that this experimental treatment could be successful in patients with cerebral palsy and the physicians pin their hopes on the theory that cells found in the umbilical cord blood will lessen, and perhaps even prevent, symptoms associated with cerebral palsy. So far the results have been positive, but doctors warn that there is no way of knowing how long this success may last or if every CP patient can expect to benefit from the same treatment.

Other promising research is being conducted at the University of Otago in New Zealand that looks to heal nerve cells that are damaged by the lack of oxygen that contributes to the development of CP. Otago researchers decided to seek whether a combination of efforts that when applied singly have not been successful might prove more flourishing. The result has been a treatment that involves both inducing hypothermia with the administration of an antioxidant to produce the consequence of restoration of motor skills. Initial success with this treatment of the causes of cerebral palsy have led scientists to focus on fine-tuning the combined treatment to locate the most effective combination of the two approaches.

Technological advancements that enhance the enjoyment of life for the person overcoming the difficulties connected with cerebral palsy are almost as welcome as news of successful research and treatment. One of the most welcome communication devices to come down the pike in many a year is the Eco-14, a computer that is opening up the world of communication between people with CP and their families and friends and anyone else with whom they come in contact. The Eco-14 is the most sophisticated messaging technology on the market today, having the appearance of a laptop computer with 136 different keys capable of producing thousands of words. Because of the physical limitations involved in a person with cerebral palsy being capable of controlling hand movements enough to use those keys, a conversation is still not as fluid as it is hoped to be one day in the future, but the intelligent design of the machine matched with the intelligence of those with cerebral palsy ensures a much broader conversation than has ever been possible before.

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