Implications for research and prevention

• Need for better population data
   
• Need for standard diagnostic criteria
   
• Need to interpret cautiously considering survival and diagnostic changes
   
• Many neurodisabilities increasing in incidence or prevalence
   
• Much of this may be increased survival (prevalence)
   
• Some appears to be a true increase in incidence with identified population influences (maternal age, multiple births)
   
• Increases in incidence unlikely to be genetic - need good data on exposures
   
• Urgent need to elucidate causal pathways as most causes are unknown
   
• Focus on prevention demands a population approach

PREVALENCE OF CEREBRAL PALSY AND OTHER NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS

L'AUGMENTATION DE L'INCIDENCE DES TROUBLES NEUROLOGIQUES D'ORIGINE PERINATALE
Professor Fiona Stanley, Institute for Child Health Research, Perth, Australia www.ichr.uwa.edu.au