World Health Organization Healthy Ageing model applied to adults with cerebral palsy: A systematic review of reported intrinsic capacity measures.
Woroud Alzaher, N Susan Stott, Paul Hofman et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review synthesized quantitative measures of the World Health Organization’s intrinsic capacity domains in adults with cerebral palsy (CP), using studies published from 2013 to 2023 and an updated search in August 2025. It included 102 studies representing 4348 participants; 69 studies were cross-sectional. Measures covered locomotion and vitality most often, while sensory, cognitive, and psychological domains were rarely assessed. Compared with controls without CP, adults with CP showed higher fatigue and lower balance, muscle strength, and muscle power. Evidence was particularly sparse for adults over 50 and for longitudinal ageing patterns.
Key findings
- The review included 102 studies and 4348 participants; 69 studies used cross-sectional designs.
- Measures addressed vitality in 84 studies and locomotion in 37, but sensory, cognitive, and psychological domains in only 2, 3, and 2 studies, respectively.
- Compared with controls without CP, adults with CP had higher fatigue and reductions in balance, muscle strength, and muscle power.
- Only four studies included cohorts with a mean or median age greater than 50 years.
Why it matters
The WHO framework highlights that healthy ageing involves more than mobility, yet the evidence base for adults with CP is concentrated in vitality and locomotion. Sparse assessment of sensory, cognitive, and psychological capacity, together with limited data on older adults and longitudinal change, leaves important aspects of ageing trajectories poorly characterized.
What to keep in mind
The evidence base was dominated by cross-sectional studies, and only four studies included cohorts with a mean or median age greater than 50 years. Sensory, cognitive, and psychological domains were rarely assessed.