The life expectancy of a child with polymicrogyria is around 25 years although the lifespan of a child with polymicrogyria can vary widely and depend on the location of the brain malformation as well as the severity of the brain malformation.
If the polymicrogyria is mild most children can live a normal lifespan well into adulthood with little or no neurological disabilities.
Children that have moderate polymicrogyria may also experience seizures as well as movement disorders and intellectual disabilities and their life expectancy may be shorter due to complications like infections and seizures.
Children that have severe cases of polymicrogyria may also have profound intellectual disabilities as well as severe seizures and may also require significant medical care and their life expectancy may be significantly reduced.
The median survival age for children that have polymicrogyria is 25 years although some child have lived well into adulthood with polymicrogyria.
Factors such as access to medical care, early diagnoses and the presence of any other underlying health conditions can also influence the outcomes and life expectancy of a child with polymicrogyria.
Polymicrogyria is a congenital brain malformation in which the cerebral cortex has an excessive number of small abnormally formed folds.
Polymicrogyria is a disorder of cortical development, which means that the brain's outer layer did not develop properly like it should before birth.
As a result the polymicrogyria condition can cause a range of neurological issues such as motor problems, developmental delays and seizures.
Abnormal brain folding is where the brain's surface which normally has folds called gyri, instead has too many folds and are also smaller and more numerous than usual.
Polymicrogyria affects the structure and organization of the brain's cortex as it's a type of malformation of cortical development.
Polymicrogyria can also be focal and affect a specific area or generalized and affect the entire brain and it can also be unilateral and affect one side of the brain or bilateral and affect both sides of the brain.
Polymicrogyria can also occur on it's own or even be associated with other brain abnormalities or genetic syndromes and the severity and presentation of Polymicrogyria can vary greatly from person to person.
The causes of Polymicrogyria include infections, genetic factors, vascular problems, metabolic disorders and in some cases the cause can be unknown.
Some cases of Polymicrogyria are caused by genetic mutations or even chromosomal abnormalities.
Some cases of Polymycrogyria are caused by prenatal infections like cytomegalovirus and some cases of Polymicrogyria can be caused by reduced blood flow to the developing brain or even a result of metabolic disorders.
Symptoms and effects of polymicrogyria include seizures, developmental delay, motor problems, speech and swallowing problems, behavioral issues and visual impairment in some cases.
Epilepsy is a common symptom of polymicrogyria and the seizures can range in severity and cognitive motor skills may even develop more slowly than expected and motor problems such as muscle weakness, paralysis or even difficulties with coordination can occur.
Polymicrogyria can also affect the muscles involved in swallowing and speech and some people may experience attention difficulties and hyperactivity.