How Plastic Are Children? Does the Age at Stroke Occurrence Matter?

When a child is diagnosed with a stroke, parents are immediately concerned about effects on cognition, learning, and education. Pediatric neurologists often discuss developmental neural plasticity when answering questions about future cognitive prognosis. Plasticity is the concept that the pediatric brain, which has not fully developed or established neural circuitry, has more healing or rewiring potential than the adult brain. The age range at which children can maximally repair and adapt circuity after a stroke is unknown, and evidence has been conflicting about whether neonates and young children with stroke have better cognitive functioning long-term than older children.(1,2)

Automated summary

When a child is diagnosed with a stroke, parents are concerned about the impact on cognition, learning, and education. Pediatric neurologists discuss the concept of developmental neural plasticity when it comes to future cognitive prognosis. The age at which children can best repair and adapt neural circuitry after a stroke is unknown, and there is conflicting evidence on whether neonates and young children who have had a stroke have better long-term cognitive functioning than older children. (1,2)