Menezes PR, Lewis G, Rasmussen F, Zammit S, Sipos A, Harrison GL, Tynelius P, & Gunnell D. (2010) Paternal and maternal ages at conception and risk of bipolar affective disorder in their offspring. Psychological medicine, 40(3), 477-85. PMID: 19627644 Paternal and maternal ages at conception and risk of bipolar affective disorder in their offspring.
Parental Age as a Risk Factor for Bipolar Disorder
Posted by admin 59 days ago (http://brainposts.blogspot.com)
Advanced parental age appears to confer increased risk for a variety of clinical neuroscience disorders. First described in Down syndrome, advanced parental age at conception has now been linked to schizophrenia and autism. Effects of advanced parental age on risk have been found for both fathers and mothers. Some disorders appear to have more risk with paternal age while other appear to have more effect with maternal age. The presumed mechanism is sporadic mutations in male germ cells and female egg cells with age. Current trends for men and women to delay childbearing place more importance on this research issue.A new study examined the role of paternal and maternal age on risk for bipolar affective disorder. Menezes from Brazil along with colleagues in the UK and Sweden conducted a population-based cohort study for individuals born in Sweden between 1973 and 1980. Bipolar disorder diagnosis was identified as being present when it resulted in psychiatric hospitalization. This is a relatively high severity threshold that would miss milder cases not requiring hospitalization.Hazard ratios controlling for confounding variables estimated the magnitude of the effect on bipolar risk.One parent over 30 years increased risk by 26%Both parents over 30 years increased risk by 45%The authors note that their study supports a role for both advanced paternal age and advanced maternal age in increased risk for bipolar disorder. It is possible, that non-genetic factors contribute to risk as older women have more obstetrical problems. Older parental age also increases risk for parental death during childhood and adolescence.Delaying parenthood can have beneficial effects on economic and emotional maturity. However, this study adds evidence to the potential adverse effects of an increasing societal phenomenon. Fireworks Photo from Lone Star Racetrack Courtesy of Yates PhotographyMenezes PR, Lewis G, Rasmussen F, Zammit S, Sipos A, Harrison GL, Tynelius P, & Gunnell D (2010). Paternal and maternal ages at conception and risk of bipolar affective disorder in their offspring. Psychological medicine, 40 (3), 477-85 PMID: 19627644...
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