Is myelin dysplasia a cerebral palsy?

Myelin hypoplasia may be a symptom of cerebral palsy. Many people do not know what myelin is. Myelin is a thin film wrapped around the outside of the axon of nerve cells. Its function is insulation, which can prevent nerve electrical impulses from entering the neurons. When a lesion occurs, this myelin may be hypoplastic. This is also an important cause of brain damage in newborns and may also cause cerebral palsy in babies.

1. What is myelin?

The myelin sheath is a layer of membrane wrapped around the outside of the axon of a nerve cell, just like the wire sheath we usually pick up. Its function is to act as an insulator to prevent nerve electrical impulses from being transmitted from one neuron axon to another neuron axon.

2.What are the functions of myelin sheath?

Myelin has three known functions:

One is to support electrical insulation between axons and surrounding tissues, such as adjacent axons, to avoid interference;

The second is to speed up the transmission of action potentials through a mechanism called "saltatory conduction";

The third is to guide the regeneration of axons in some cases where axons are damaged.

3. What is myelination?

Myelination refers to the process of myelin development, which speeds up the conduction of nerve excitation along nerve fibers and ensures its directional conduction. It is an essential process for the development of the newborn's nervous system.

Myelination is a form of learning that strengthens the connection between cell tissues. “Practice makes perfect” is the result of this substance.

4. What is the significance of abnormal myelination?

It is very common in babies with brain damage, including malformed myelination, delayed myelination, and lag in myelination development. From the definition of myelin sheath, myelination and myelin function, it is not difficult to see that myelin sheath is very important to us, especially for our learning, motor function, reaction speed and so on.

Prevention before birth

(1) Implementing premarital health care: popularizing prenatal screening, providing guidance on sexual health, fertility and genetic diseases to men and women who are preparing to get married; providing consultation on issues such as marriage and fertility, and conducting medical examinations on diseases that may affect marriage and fertility for both men and women, and providing medical advice.

(2) Take good care of yourself during pregnancy: provide health education, regular prenatal check-ups, increase nutrition, prevent the occurrence of infectious diseases, etc. Avoid prenatal infection and taking contraindicated medications, and avoid contact with X-rays, toxic chemicals, etc. Strengthen labor protection in late pregnancy and reduce premature births.