Cerebral palsy is a lifelong disorder caused by damage to a child’s brain before, during, or shortly after birth. Symptoms vary in severity and include stiff muscles, involuntary movements, or cognitive deficits. Some children are able to function quite normally, while others will require continued care throughout their lives.

According to Healthcare Global, recent research suggests the use of a new drug that might limit the development of cerebral palsy if administered early enough.

One of the hypothesized causes of cerebral palsy is that the brain damage is a result of inflammation in the child’s brain; this inflammation stems from an infection during pregnancy. In a recent research study, rabbits with similar characteristics of cerebral palsy were administered a drug that targets and treats the inflammation in the brain. The rabbits who were treated showed much better muscle and movement control than the rabbits who did not receive the drug.

If the new drug works for humans as well as it did for the rabbits, it could be a very promising treatment for brain damage caused by prenatal infections. There have been no human clinical trials or an examination of side effects. Researchers say the drug must be administered right after birth in order to be effective.