“The future depends on what you do today.”
Gandhi

Cerebral palsy is a lifelong condition. The extent to which a person is affected typically depends on the location and severity of brain damage.

Understanding what CP is, helps us make sense of our child’s physical challenges—but it offers little beyond that. If we approach treatment based solely on this understanding, we often find ourselves stuck in the present—locked in a cycle of ongoing maintenance with no clear path forward.

Since there is no cure, we simply do our best to keep pace as our child grows.

Neuroplasticity, on the other hand, opens a new door to how the body can respond to cerebral palsy. It offers the potential to reshape how CP affects the body—especially when tapped into early in life.

While brain damage causing cerebral palsy cannot be reversed, neuroplasticity offers a powerful alternative. The brain can occasionally learn to bypass damaged areas, rerouting functions to healthier regions.

In early development, neuroplasticity is the greatest hope for meaningful improvement. Acting within this critical window—when the brain is most adaptable—can make all the difference. The earlier you start, the greater the potential for possible change.

Neuroplasticity offers a different—and often more hopeful—perspective on cerebral palsy. When we approach CP through the lens of neuroplasticity, we gain the possibility that our daily efforts won’t just manage the condition, but may actually improve ability. It gives us hope—not only for maintaining function, but for real, lasting progress, both now and in the future.

What is neuroplasticity?
In short, Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change, adapt, and reorganize itself throughout life in response to experience, learning, or injury. Nothing about neuroplasticity is fixed; it describes the brain’s remarkable ability to change—to rewire itself. From the moment it begins to form until the end of life, the brain is constantly evolving, both physically and chemically.

The brain is the most complex organ in the human body, responsible for everything we do. It governs our thoughts, senses, memories, emotions, intelligence, and controls all bodily functions—both voluntary and involuntary.

Made up of billions of impulse-conducting cells called neurons, the brain uses electrical signals to communicate through the nervous system. These neurons form intricate pathways that connect to every part of the body, transmitting trillions of electrical impulses every second.

Although neurons are linked in vast networks, they don’t actually touch.
They are separated by tiny gaps called synapses. Communication across these synapses happens through chemical messengers known as neurotransmitters.

When a neuron sends a message, it releases neurotransmitters that cross the synapse and bind to receptors on the receiving neuron, activating it. Each neuron can form thousands of connections with others.

This intricate, interconnected system of neurons and neurotransmitters is the foundation of how the brain and nervous system function.

The brain’s immense power has fascinated us for centuries.
For a long time, it was believed that the brain was fixed at birth and unchanging throughout life. Only in recent decades has science revealed a different truth: that the brain is constantly changing.

In 1948, Polish neuroscientist Jerzy Konorski coined the term neuroplasticity. The word combines “neuro,” meaning nerves, and “plasticity,” from the Greek plastikos, meaning moldable or pliable.

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s remarkable ability to reorganize its structure and function in response to experience, stimulation, injury, or dysfunction. It is the mechanism that allows us to learn, adapt, and grow. Through neuroplasticity, the brain responds to both internal changes and external influences, reshaping itself over time.

Our brains are constantly changing—and this continues throughout our lives.
The extent of that change depends on how much stimulation the brain receives. Neuroplasticity is the process behind every act of learning. From before birth, it drives brain development. As we grow, it’s what enables us to learn to sit, crawl, walk, speak, and much more.

This means that learning physically changes the brain. Every thought we think and every action we take activates specific neurons. Over time, repeated actions and thoughts strengthen those neural pathways.

The brain is always in flux—reshaped by every experience and choice we make. The more we practice something, the better we become at it. The more we revisit a thought, the more likely it is to stay with us.

Neuroplasticity is driven by neuronal activity.
Synaptic connections that are used frequently become stronger, while those that are rarely used weaken and may eventually disappear—a process known as synaptic pruning.

New experiences and activities can create entirely new connections between neurons. These connections may be temporary or long-lasting, depending on how consistently and intensely they are used.

Over time, the brain’s structure—its neurons and synapses—change in response to this activity. These physical changes reflect how we challenge, stimulate, and engage our brains.
In essence, the brain rewires itself based on how we use it.

Neurons can amplify a signal by releasing more neurotransmitters.
This increased chemical activity can either modify existing synaptic receptors on the receiving neuron or lead to the creation of entirely new ones. These changes contribute to short-term memory and are referred to as synaptic neuroplasticity.

For long-term memory, more lasting changes are required. In this case, the neurons themselves undergo structural changes—a process known as structural neuroplasticity. This involves the growth of new dendritic spines, the formation of additional synaptic connections, and even the creation of entirely new neurons.

Structural neuroplasticity, driven by increased activity, can lead to the expansion of highly active brain areas, while areas with less activity may shrink over time.

In addition to structural changes, the brain is also capable of functional neuroplasticity—where healthy regions of the brain take over the roles of damaged or inactive areas. This remarkable ability allows the brain to reassign functions, helping to compensate for injury or loss and supporting recovery.

To keep the brain sharp and continually improving, it must stay challenged, active, and engaged.
This is where the principle “use it or lose it” becomes essential. Memories or abilities that are rarely used or seem unimportant tend to fade over time.

In contrast, memorable moments trigger unique patterns of neuronal activity. When these experiences are revisited often—especially when paired with strong emotional connections—they are more likely to become lasting memories.

Repetition and practice are key to deeper learning and skill development. The more active, intense, and consistent the practice, the more lasting and meaningful the changes in the brain.

Neuroplasticity is the foundation of how our brains develop and grow, making it especially active during early childhood. This heightened plasticity is why young children learn new skills—like playing a musical instrument or acquiring a second language—more easily and naturally than adults.

Reflecting the growing understanding of neuroplasticity, modern approaches to therapy have evolved. As The Lancet notes:

“The focus of rehabilitation treatment has recently shifted to neurological rehabilitation in response to increasing evidence for neuroplasticity. This approach aims to improve development and function by capitalising on the innate capacity of the brain to change and adapt throughout the patient’s life.”

This highlights the importance of early, targeted, and consistent intervention—especially in children with neurological conditions like cerebral palsy.

To me, neuroplasticity is the crux of where the current medical approach to cerebral palsy falls painfully short.

Since Julian’s diagnosis 15 years ago, not a single professional has spoken to us about neuroplasticity—not once. That is simply unacceptable.

We know the brain can rewire itself after a stroke, often leading to remarkable functional recovery in a relatively short time. So, apart from the difference between rehabilitation and habilitation, why is the neuroplasticity potential not part of the conversation when it comes to CP? Why are parents never made aware of this possibility?

The silence around neuroplasticity in the context of cerebral palsy is not just an oversight—it’s a failure. So, I'll say it a billion times, NEVER ACCEPT when a medical professional tells you “Let's wait and see.” THEY ARE WRONG.