Cerebral palsy and sex differences in children: A narrative review of the literature

J Neurosci Res. 2023 May;101(5):783-795. doi: 10.1002/jnr.25020. Epub 2022 Feb 9.

Abstract

In the last years, new evidence has increased the attention on sex differences in the development of children with cerebral palsy (CP). Males seem to present with a higher risk for severe motor impairment and in the response to chirurgical and rehabilitative interventions. The published data confirmed a higher incidence of CP in males than in females. The aim of this literature review was to evaluate the impact of the sex on the most important areas that characterized CP: motor function, comorbidities (pain, cognitive impairment, communications skills, epilepsy, sleep, and behavior), and the different kind of interventions.

Keywords: cognitive function; female; male; motor function.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cerebral Palsy* / epidemiology
  • Child
  • Cognitive Dysfunction* / epidemiology
  • Comorbidity
  • Epilepsy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Sex Characteristics