Spina Bifida

The Spina Bifida topic includes research on the causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of spina bifida and the related birth defect, anencephaly.

Spina bifida is a neural birth defect involving incomplete development of the spine and some leg paralysis. It often occurs before a woman knows she is pregnant. In anencephaly, most of the brain and skull do not develop. Babies with anencephaly are usually either stillborn or die shortly after birth.

The exact cause of neural tube defects is unknown, and there are no cures. Maternal risk factors include obesity, poorly controlled diabetes, and taking certain antiseizure medications.