I take care of a 68 year old man with Cerebral Palsy. He is loosing more and more of his ability to do anything very fast in the last year. He has both a G-tube and a J-tube in which he is fed and medicated. He is unable to eat or drink by mouth anymore. He can no longer control his power Wheel chair either. I can not find any information on Aging with Cerebral Palsey.

Hi,

There seems to be little in the literature with regard to aging with cerebral palsy. I guess what caregivers and parents, and the person with cp him/herself needs to appreciate is this ... we with this condition, particularly those who are able to ambulate, "age" more rapidly than our able-bodied peers simply by the very nature of the way we move. We tend to wear and tear our bodies more quickly. We also burn calories very rapidly in aid of doing what others do so easily; walking, sitting, standing, etc. Nutritional supplementing often helps, in view of the fact that most of us have "failure to thrive". I'm a bottomless pit when it comes to caloric intake. My mother, when I lived at home, couldn't keep me in groceries.

To combat the fatigue associated with aging with cerebral palsy, especially for those who do walk, magnesium (cheleated) will help. Also, consider using a scooter or wheelchair to conserve energy and spine integrity. Premature arthritis of the spine is something many with cp live with.

Kind regards,

Carla MacInnis http://www.*******.net/terrier