Researchers examined health records of more than 7 million people, identified over 13,400 with bipolar disease (who they matched with 5 controls), and divided fathers into 5-year age categories starting at age 20.
After adjusting for other factors (like a history of mental illness), they found consistently increasing risk as the fathers aged.
Fathers aged 55 and older had the highest risk of having children with bipolar disease.
Advanced paternal age has also been linked to higher rates of autism and schizophrenia in adult children.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Older Dads = Higher Chance of Bipolar Disease
A Swedish study reported on in the Health section of the New York Times links the age of the father with the frequency of bipolar disease in offspring. The New York Times article is here. Some highlights:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
The paternal age effect is major in mental and physical well being. For more information look at my blogs.
Post a Comment