This can produce problems with walking and carrying out activities with the hands. Other patients have involvement in the basal ganglia which leads to abnormal movements such as the dance-like movements known as chorea. Most commonly, cognitive function is not affected, and patients with cerebral palsy can have normal or supernormal intelligence. The condition is usually diagnosed in infancy when abnormal muscle tone or motor development problems are noted. The condition is static in that the deficits present at birth remain through life without worsening.
Treatment is aimed at improving abnormal muscle tone and helping the patient to move better.