When parents receive a cerebral palsy diagnosis for their child, one of the first questions that surfaces is whether anything could have been done differently.

According to the CDC’s 2024 surveillance data, cerebral palsy affects approximately 3.3 per 1,000 children in the United States, making it the most common motor disability in childhood. As medical understanding of brain development and pregnancy complications has advanced, researchers have identified specific risk factors that contribute to cerebral palsy—some preventable, others beyond our current control.

The question of prevention matters more than ever as prenatal care standards evolve and birth practices continue to improve. For expectant parents and families already navigating this diagnosis, understanding the complex web of factors that can lead to cerebral palsy provides both clarity and a foundation for informed decision-making. This knowledge doesn’t change what’s already happened, but it can guide future pregnancies and help families understand the intricate biological processes that affect brain development during the most vulnerable periods of a child’s life.

Why Understanding Cerebral Palsy Causes Matters Today

Cerebral palsy represents a group of permanent movement and posture disorders caused by damage to the developing brain, typically occurring before, during, or shortly after birth. The complexity of this condition stems from the fact that multiple pathways can lead to the same outcome—brain injury that affects motor control and development.

Current research has moved far beyond the outdated assumption that most cerebral palsy cases result from birth trauma or oxygen deprivation during delivery. Scientists now understand that the majority of cases—roughly 70 to 80 percent—actually originate from events that occur during pregnancy, when the brain is forming its fundamental structures. This shift in understanding has profound implications for prevention strategies and helps explain why some children develop cerebral palsy despite what appears to be an uncomplicated birth.

The brain damage that causes cerebral palsy most commonly affects areas responsible for movement, balance, and posture. Depending on which brain regions are impacted and the extent of the damage, children may experience anything from mild coordination difficulties to severe physical disabilities affecting multiple limbs. What makes this condition particularly challenging to predict is that similar brain injuries can produce vastly different outcomes—one child might have subtle learning differences, while another requires extensive physical support.

Modern medical imaging and genetic testing have revealed that cerebral palsy often results from a combination of factors rather than a single catastrophic event. A child might have a genetic predisposition that makes their brain more vulnerable to injury, experience a maternal infection during a critical development window, and then encounter additional stress during birth. This layered risk model explains why prevention efforts must address multiple potential causes rather than focusing solely on delivery complications.

Understanding these complexities becomes crucial when families face decisions about future pregnancies or when pursuing complex birth injury cases that require detailed analysis of medical care standards. The timeline of brain development and the specific periods when different types of damage can occur directly influence both medical prevention strategies and legal considerations about when preventable harm may have occurred.

What Prenatal and Perinatal Factors Increase Cerebral Palsy Risk?

The period from conception through the first month after birth represents the highest-risk window for the brain injuries that cause cerebral palsy. During pregnancy, the developing brain undergoes rapid cell division and organization, making it particularly vulnerable to disruption from infections, inflammation, or reduced blood flow.

Maternal infections during pregnancy pose one of the most significant modifiable risk factors. When a pregnant woman contracts certain viral or bacterial infections—including cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, rubella, or even severe urinary tract infections—the resulting inflammatory response can cross the placenta and interfere with fetal brain development. The timing of infection matters critically; infections during the second trimester often prove most damaging because that’s when crucial brain structures are forming.

Pregnancy complications that reduce oxygen or nutrient flow to the developing baby also increase cerebral palsy risk substantially. Placental problems like placenta previa or placental abruption can starve the brain of oxygen during critical development periods. Similarly, severe maternal conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, or thyroid disorders can compromise the intricate environment the developing brain requires.

Multiple pregnancies carry inherently higher risks, not just because of the increased likelihood of premature birth, but because of complications specific to sharing space in the womb. Twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, where one baby receives too much blood flow and the other too little, can cause brain damage in either child. Even when one twin is lost during pregnancy, the surviving twin faces elevated cerebral palsy risk due to the sudden changes in blood flow and potential clotting complications.

The timing of birth itself plays a crucial role, with babies born before 32 weeks facing dramatically higher cerebral palsy rates—sometimes 40 to 100 times higher than full-term infants. Premature babies’ brains are not only less developed but also more susceptible to bleeding and infection. The delicate blood vessels in their developing brains can rupture under stress that a full-term baby’s brain would handle without injury.

How Genetic Factors Influence Cerebral Palsy

While environmental factors during pregnancy often take center stage in cerebral palsy discussions, genetic influences play a more significant role than many families realize. Recent research suggests that genetic factors may contribute to 10 to 15 percent of cerebral palsy cases, either as direct causes or by making children more vulnerable to other risk factors.

Single gene mutations can directly cause cerebral palsy-like symptoms, particularly in cases involving metabolic disorders or abnormal brain development. Mutations affecting genes responsible for brain cell migration, blood vessel formation, or cellular energy production can lead to the motor and cognitive challenges characteristic of cerebral palsy. These genetic forms often run in families and may be identifiable through genetic testing.

More commonly, genetic variations increase susceptibility to brain injury without directly causing cerebral palsy. Some children inherit genetic traits that make their brains more sensitive to inflammation, less able to recover from oxygen deprivation, or more prone to bleeding. When these children encounter additional risk factors—like maternal infection or premature birth—they’re more likely to sustain brain damage than genetically typical children facing the same challenges.

Chromosomal abnormalities represent another genetic pathway to cerebral palsy. Conditions like Down syndrome often include cerebral palsy as one component of a broader pattern of developmental differences. In these cases, the altered genetic blueprint affects multiple body systems, including the brain regions controlling movement and coordination.

The interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental factors explains why some families experience cerebral palsy in multiple children despite similar pregnancy care, while others face significant pregnancy complications without any lasting effects. Understanding these genetic components is increasingly important for family planning decisions and for developing personalized prevention strategies.

How Environmental Factors Affect Cerebral Palsy Development

Environmental influences during pregnancy extend far beyond obvious toxins to include factors that many families don’t recognize as risks. Maternal stress, whether from major life events, chronic illness, or socioeconomic pressures, can trigger inflammatory responses that affect fetal brain development. While normal daily stress poses little risk, severe or prolonged stress may increase cerebral palsy likelihood by disrupting the hormonal environment crucial for healthy brain formation.

Nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy, particularly deficits in folate, iron, or omega-3 fatty acids, can impair brain development and increase vulnerability to other risk factors. Maternal malnutrition doesn’t need to be severe to affect fetal brain development; even moderate deficiencies during critical development windows can have lasting consequences.

Exposure to certain medications during pregnancy requires careful risk-benefit analysis. While most prescription medications are safe, some antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and psychiatric medications may increase cerebral palsy risk if used during specific developmental periods. The challenge lies in balancing maternal health needs against potential fetal risks—sometimes treating maternal conditions actually reduces overall risk to the developing baby.

Environmental toxins including lead, mercury, and certain pesticides can cross the placental barrier and interfere with normal brain development. Even low-level exposures that wouldn’t affect adult health may disrupt the precise cellular processes required for proper brain formation. Geographic factors, occupational exposures, and household environments all contribute to cumulative toxin loads during pregnancy.

Which Birth Complications and Brain Development Issues Cause Cerebral Palsy?

The birth process itself, while representing only a small percentage of cerebral palsy causes, involves intense physical stresses that can occasionally overwhelm a baby’s developing brain. Prolonged labor or difficult deliveries sometimes reduce oxygen flow to the brain for periods long enough to cause permanent damage. However, contrary to historical assumptions, most babies tolerate even challenging deliveries without lasting neurological effects.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy—brain injury from oxygen deprivation—represents the most serious birth-related cause of cerebral palsy. This condition occurs when blood flow to the brain is severely compromised during delivery, often due to umbilical cord complications, placental problems, or maternal blood pressure crises. The extent of brain damage depends on both the severity and duration of oxygen deprivation, with some children recovering completely while others develop severe disabilities.

Neonatal strokes affect approximately 1 in 2,000 newborns and can occur before, during, or immediately after birth. These strokes—caused by blood clots or bleeding in the brain—often go unnoticed initially because newborns can’t communicate symptoms. Brain imaging may reveal stroke damage months later when parents notice delayed motor development or asymmetric movement patterns.

Infections during the newborn period pose particular dangers because babies’ immune systems are still developing. Bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis, or severe sepsis can cause brain inflammation and damage that leads to cerebral palsy. Group B strep infections, transmitted from mother to baby during delivery, represent one of the most preventable causes of newborn brain infection.

Severe jaundice that goes untreated can cause a condition called kernicterus, where high levels of bilirubin damage brain cells controlling movement and hearing. While routine newborn screening has made kernicterus rare in developed countries, it remains a preventable cause of cerebral palsy when appropriate monitoring and treatment are delayed.

Brain hemorrhages in premature infants represent another critical pathway to cerebral palsy. The fragile blood vessels in developing brains can rupture from changes in blood pressure, oxygen levels, or blood flow that occur during intensive care treatment. While neonatal intensive care saves many lives, the interventions required for survival sometimes contribute to brain injury in the most vulnerable babies.

The period immediately following birth continues to pose risks as newborns adapt to breathing, maintaining body temperature, and managing blood sugar independently. Severe complications during this transition—particularly prolonged low blood sugar, persistent breathing difficulties, or temperature regulation problems—can stress the brain enough to cause lasting damage.

What Prevention Strategies Can Lower Cerebral Palsy Risk?

Modern prevention strategies focus on reducing known risk factors rather than eliminating cerebral palsy entirely, since many contributing factors remain beyond medical control. Comprehensive prenatal care represents the most effective prevention approach, starting with pre-conception counseling that addresses genetic risks, maternal health optimization, and lifestyle modifications that support healthy brain development.

Infection prevention during pregnancy offers some of the most tangible risk reduction opportunities. This includes routine screening for and treatment of urinary tract infections, group B strep testing near delivery, vaccination against preventable diseases, and careful food safety practices to avoid toxoplasmosis and listeria. While not all infections can be prevented, reducing exposure and ensuring prompt treatment when infections occur significantly lowers cerebral palsy risk.

Management of maternal health conditions before and during pregnancy can prevent many of the complications that threaten fetal brain development. Controlling diabetes, treating high blood pressure, managing thyroid disorders, and addressing blood clotting problems all contribute to creating the stable environment developing brains require. Sometimes this means adjusting medications or increasing monitoring frequency, but untreated maternal conditions typically pose greater risks than carefully managed treatment.

Timing of delivery decisions has evolved substantially as research reveals the optimal balance between fetal maturity and pregnancy risks. While preventing premature birth remains a priority, understanding when the risks of staying in the womb outweigh the risks of early delivery helps guide decisions about timing interventions. Advanced fetal monitoring and improved neonatal care have expanded the safety margin for these complex decisions.

Magnesium sulfate administration to mothers in preterm labor has emerged as one of the most evidence-based cerebral palsy prevention strategies. Research shows that magnesium sulfate given to women delivering before 32 weeks can reduce the risk of cerebral palsy in their babies by approximately 30 percent. This relatively simple intervention demonstrates how targeted prevention strategies can have meaningful impacts.

The reality is that many cerebral palsy cases occur despite excellent medical care and optimal conditions. Current prevention strategies can reduce risk but cannot eliminate it entirely. For families navigating this complex landscape, understanding both the possibilities and limitations of prevention provides a realistic framework for making informed decisions about pregnancy care and family planning. The goal is not perfection, but rather the best possible outcomes given current medical knowledge and individual circumstances.

Q1: 2026-05-06 Earnings Summary

EPS of $0.58 beats by $0.08

 | Revenue of $6.05B (0.80% Y/Y) beats by $167.59M

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Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have offloaded domestic equities worth Rs 2.06 lakh crore in 2026, remaining net sellers for the third successive month-to-date. They have sold shares worth Rs 14,231 crore, so far this month.

On Friday, FIIs sold domestic shares to the tune of Rs 4,110.60 crore while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers at Rs 6,748.13 crore.

Despite DIIs throwing around their weight, benchmark indices ended with sharp cuts on Friday, recording their second successive decline amid significant selling in the financial stocks. While Nifty plunged 150.50 points or 0.62% to close at 24,176.15, the BSE Sensex settled at 77,328.19, down 516.33 points or 0.66%.

Commenting on the current trends, N. ArunaGiri, CEO at TrustLine Holdings said domestic markets continue to see FII selling despite a nearly $50 billion sell-off since September 2024 at a time when South Korea received nearly $4 billion and Taiwan around $5.5 billion in flows.

“India is still not getting its due share of emerging market allocations. This clearly indicates that FIIs currently do not find India as attractive from an allocation perspective. As a result, large caps have relatively underperformed, while strong domestic flows have continued to support the SMID segment. As long as FIIs do not meaningfully increase India allocations, the market is likely to remain highly stock-specific, driven by earnings visibility and bottom-up opportunities rather than momentum rally led by large caps,” ArunaGiri said.

Outlook

Bajaj Broking said institutional activity is expected to be largely driven by global developments, going forward. The progress or deterioration of the U.S.–Iran negotiations will remain a key factor to monitor, he said, outlining significant implications for geopolitical stability and the potential impact on crude oil price volatility.

FIIs in 2026

War-induced sell-off in March made it the worst month this year, witnessing an exodus worth Rs 1,17,775 crore. April was not kind too, with outflows of Rs 60,847 crore. Foreign investors turned net buyers in February, buying shares worth Rs 22,615 crore in the domestic markets so far. In January, they sold Rs 35,962 crore worth of shares.

In 2025, the FIIs buying trends remained patchy, but the overall trend was bearish. They took Rs 1,66,286 crore from Indian markets as trade deal delay and premium valuations weighed on the sentiments.

Also read: FII ownership hits 14-year low to 14.7%; DII cushions Indian markets with 18.9% rise: Report

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of Economic Times)

Domestic stock markets ended sharply lower on Friday amid rising geopolitical concerns following escalating tensions between the US and Iran, continued weakness in the rupee and broad-based selling in financial shares. Auto and energy stocks were among the major laggards during the session. The Nifty50 fell 150.50 points, or 0.62%, to close at 24,176.15, while the BSE Sensex tumbled 516.33 points, or 0.66%, to settle at 77,328.19.

Meanwhile, the volatility gauge India VIX ended at 16.84, down by 1.32% from the last closing.

Analyst Sudeep Shah, Vice President and Head of Technical & Derivatives Research at SBI Securities, interacted with ETMarkets regarding the outlook for the Nifty and Bank Nifty, as well as an index strategy for the upcoming week. The following are the edited excerpts from his chat:

Q: What does the Nifty chart suggest for next week’s trade following an otherwise calm week with the index settling with WoW gains of 0.7% in the absence of any big surprise?

For the second consecutive week, the benchmark index Nifty continued to trade within a narrow range, forming another indecisive candle on the weekly chart. Over the last 11 trading sessions, the index has largely oscillated within the 24516–23797 zone, reflecting a lack of clear directional bias. The underperformance of heavyweight sectors such as IT and Banking, coupled with uncertainty surrounding the US-Iran conflict and persistent volatility in crude oil prices, has kept market participants cautious and indecisive. However, beneath this quiet index movement, a completely different trend is unfolding in the broader market.

The broader market continues to remain vibrant. Both midcap and smallcap indices are significantly outperforming the benchmark index. Most notably, the Nifty Midcap 100 touched a fresh all-time high on Friday, while the benchmark Nifty still trades nearly 8% below its record peak. Meanwhile, the Nifty Smallcap 100 index has climbed to a 10-month high. However, after the sharp outperformance witnessed in the broader market, we believe these segments could enter a phase of consolidation before resuming the next leg of the upward move. At the same time, the technical structure of Nifty itself is hinting that a major move may not be too far away.
The Nifty index continues to display signs of indecision on the technical charts. One of the key observations on the daily timeframe is the visible Bollinger Band squeeze, indicating a sharp contraction in volatility. The Bollinger Band squeeze typically occurs when volatility declines and the bands narrow, often preceding a strong directional move on either side. Adding to this, most of the crucial moving averages are currently flattening out, while momentum indicators are also signaling a sideways trend. The only question now is — which side will break first, and where should traders keep a close watch?
On the upside, the 24,450–24,500 zone is expected to act as an immediate hurdle for the index. On the downside, the 23850–23800 zone remains a crucial support area. The next breakout from this tightening range could potentially decide the market’s near-term direction.

Q: While India VIX fell over 7% during the week, it is still hovering around the 17 mark. What levels will make you comfortable to plan your trades?

India VIX has corrected sharply after touching the 28.90 mark and is now trading below its 20-day and 50-day EMAs, indicating a cooling-off in volatility. The current chart structure suggests that the market is not anticipating any major surge in volatility over the next few trading sessions, especially in the absence of fresh geopolitical triggers.

In the near term, the bias is likely to remain subdued; however, the 18.80–19 zone will act as a crucial threshold. A sustained move above this level would signal a potential spike in volatility, which could make the market more uncertain. From a trading perspective, lower VIX levels provide a relatively comfortable environment for planning trades, whereas a breakout above 19 would warrant caution due to the likelihood of increased market swings.

Q: Nifty Bank has been a cause of concern as far as the market sentiments are concerned and is down nearly 8% in three months. What is the outlook considering even earnings have failed to boost investor confidence?

The banking benchmark index has continued to underperform relative to the broader market. Although it witnessed a rebound on Wednesday, the index failed to sustain at higher levels, indicating selling pressure on rallies. On the weekly chart, it has formed a small-bodied candle with shadows on both sides, reflecting indecisiveness and a lack of clear direction.

Currently, the index is trading below all its key moving averages, which are themselves moving in a flat trajectory, suggesting a consolidation phase. The daily RSI has also been oscillating in a sideways range over the past 22 trading sessions, further highlighting the absence of strong momentum.

Going ahead, the 54,300–54,200 zone is expected to act as an important support. A decisive and sustained move below 54,200 could trigger further downside towards 53,500, followed by 53,000.

On the upside, the 50-day EMA zone of 56,000–56,100 will act as an immediate resistance. A sustained breakout above 56,100 may lead to a sharp upward move towards 56,600, and subsequently 57,200 in the short term.

Q: What is happening with two biggest stakeholders – HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank and do you see any pullback in them?

Both HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank continue to exhibit signs of technical weakness and remain under pressure. HDFC Bank has struggled to decisively move past its 20-day EMA, which continues to act as a dynamic resistance zone. Meanwhile, ICICI Bank has corrected nearly 9% after closing strongly above its 200-day EMA on April 21, indicating sustained profit booking at higher levels.

In addition, the private banking pack remains in the lagging quadrant on the Relative Rotation Graph (RRG), reflecting weak relative strength and deteriorating momentum compared to the broader market. The MACD line for both stocks is also placed well below the zero line, reinforcing the prevailing bearish bias.

From a technical standpoint, the 800–810 zone is likely to act as a strong resistance for HDFC Bank, while 1300–1310 remains a key hurdle for ICICI Bank. Unless these resistance zones are decisively breached with a visible improvement in relative strength and momentum, the probability of a meaningful pullback remains low.

Q: Auto was the outright performer this week as earnings have been supportive. What is your view of the sector and do have your favourites?

Nifty Auto had been consolidating within the 26,746–25,296 range since April 8 on the daily chart. The index witnessed a breakout on May 6, which was supported by a healthy follow-through move. The RSI is in a rising mode, indicating that momentum remains on the bullish side. Additionally, the rising MACD histogram bars, along with the MACD line sustaining above the zero line, further reinforce the positive bias.

On the Relative Rotation Graph (RRG), Nifty Auto has moved from the weakening quadrant to the leading quadrant, signalling that both relative strength and momentum have returned in favour of the index.

Among the stocks, Motherson, Bajaj Auto, Bharat Forge, and Mahindra & Mahindra are displaying positive price action setups and are likely to perform well in the short term.

Q: Realty stocks have also show a strong rebound for the past one month and it was among the top performing sector this week. What does the chart suggest about the outlook?

The Nifty Realty Index has witnessed a strong pullback of nearly 30% since its low of 639 recorded on April 2. Despite the momentum not being exceptionally strong, the index has managed to steadily inch higher, reflecting sustained buying interest at lower levels. The index is currently trading around 1% below its 200-day EMA.

On the Relative Rotation Graph (RRG), the index is placed in the leading quadrant. However, momentum appears to be concentrated in select stocks rather than across the broader realty pack.

From a technical standpoint, the 800–795 zone, which coincides with the 100-day EMA, is likely to act as a key support area. As long as the index sustains above this zone, the ongoing up move is likely to extend further.

Q: Firstsource, Godrej Industries and Tejas Networks were among top gainers this week, while Sapphire Foods, Oil India and Voltas have been big losers. What should investors do with them?

FSL had largely been consolidating within the 255–202 range on the daily chart since March 2. The stock witnessed a breakout on Friday, supported by a strong rise in volumes. The RSI has inched above the 60 mark, indicating healthy bullish momentum. As long as the stock sustains above the 255–250 zone, the pullback is likely to extend further.

GODREJIND has given a breakout from a downward-sloping trendline on the daily chart. The rising ADX indicates strengthening bullish trend momentum. Additionally, the DI lines have widened, with DI+ placed comfortably above DI- on the ADX indicator, signalling firm bullish control. As long as the stock trades above the 1075–1070 zone, the up move is likely to extend further.

TEJASNET has witnessed a strong pullback of nearly 28.5% since the low of 396 recorded on April 24. The rebound has been supported by a sharp rise in volumes. The stock has also closed above its 200-day EMA placed around 508, and sustaining above this level will be crucial for continuation of the pullback.

SAPPHIRE failed to sustain above its 100-day EMA and has witnessed selling pressure over the last five trading sessions. The RSI has slipped below the 60 mark, indicating weakening momentum. The stock has been in a prolonged downtrend and is likely to remain sideways to bearish as long as it trades below 215.

OIL has closed below the previous swing low of 456 on the daily chart and is now trading close to its 200-day EMA. The RSI is hovering near the 40 mark, indicating bearish momentum. Additionally, the MACD line remains below the zero line, further reinforcing the negative bias. As long as the stock trades below 470, the trend is likely to remain bearish.

Voltas has witnessed a correction of nearly 14% since the high of 1538 recorded on April 29. The RSI is in a falling mode, indicating weakening momentum, while DI- remains above DI+ on the ADX indicator, signalling sellers’ dominance. As long as the stock trades below the 1410–1415 zone, the trend is likely to remain bearish.

(Disclaimer: The recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times.)