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Wiegersma AM, Boots A, Langendam MW, Limpens J, Shenkin SD, Korosi A, Roseboom TJ, de Rooij SR. Do prenatal factors shape the risk for dementia?: A systematic review of the epidemiological evidence for the prenatal origins of dementia. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2023:10.1007/s00127-023-02471-7. [PMID: 37029828 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-023-02471-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Prenatal factors such as maternal stress, infection and nutrition affect fetal brain development and may also influence later risk for dementia. The purpose of this systematic review was to provide an overview of all studies which investigated the association between prenatal factors and later risk for dementia. METHODS We systematically searched MEDLINE and Embase for original human studies reporting on associations between prenatal factors and dementia from inception to 23 November 2022. Prenatal factors could be any factor assessed during pregnancy, at birth or postnatally, provided they were indicative of a prenatal exposure. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. We followed PRISMA guidelines for reporting. RESULTS A total of 68 studies met eligibility criteria (including millions of individuals), assessing maternal age (N = 30), paternal age (N = 22), birth order (N = 15), season of birth (N = 16), place of birth (N = 13), prenatal influenza pandemic (N = 1) or Chinese famine exposure (N = 1), birth characteristics (N = 3) and prenatal hormone exposure (N = 4). We observed consistent results for birth in a generally less optimal environment (e.g. high infant mortality area) being associated with higher dementia risk. Lower and higher birth weight and prenatal famine exposure were associated with higher dementia risk. The studies on season of birth, digit ratio, prenatal influenza pandemic exposure, parental age and birth order showed inconsistent results and were hampered by relatively high risk of bias. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that some prenatal factors, especially those related to a suboptimal prenatal environment, are associated with an increased dementia risk. As these associations may be confounded by factors such as parental socioeconomic status, more research is needed to examine the potential causal role of the prenatal environment in dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Marileen Wiegersma
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Aging & Later Life, Health Behaviors & Chronic Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Amber Boots
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Aging & Later Life, Health Behaviors & Chronic Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Miranda W Langendam
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Methodology, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline Limpens
- Medical Library, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Susan D Shenkin
- Geriatric Medicine, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
| | - Aniko Korosi
- Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Tessa J Roseboom
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Aging & Later Life, Health Behaviors & Chronic Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Susanne R de Rooij
- Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Aging & Later Life, Health Behaviors & Chronic Diseases, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Yasuno F, Minami H. Season of birth and vulnerability to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease: an in vivo positron emission tomography study. Psychogeriatrics 2022; 22:445-452. [PMID: 35474398 DOI: 10.1111/psyg.12838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study used positron emission tomography to examine whether the seasonal birth effect as an exogenic indicator of early life environmental factors influenced vulnerability to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in the elderly. METHODS We analysed datasets from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, which included the data for 234 cognitively normal (CN) individuals and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n = 114) and AD dementia (n = 38). As an index of amyloid β (Aβ)/tau accumulation, the 18 F-AV-45- and 18 F-AV-1451-standardized uptake value ratios (SUVRs) were compared between groups of spring-to-summer births and fall-to-winter births by analysis of covariance. In addition, a multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine whether the season of birth was a predictor of 18 F-AV-45 and/or 18 F-AV-1451 SUVRs, for which a difference was observed. RESULTS Seasonal birth difference was a good predictor of 18 F-AV-1451 SUVR. We found that participants with a fall-to-winter birth showed lower 18 F-AV-1451 SUVRs than those with a spring-to-summer birth in both the CN and MCI/AD groups, after correcting for the effect of age, sex, years of education, and Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale score, that could possibly affect tau accumulation. CONCLUSIONS Participants with a fall-to-winter birth showed less tau accumulation than those with a spring-to-summer birth after accounting for the factors that could affect tau accumulation. Our findings showed a vulnerability to tau pathology in participants with a fall-to-winter birth, which may be caused by perinatal or postnatal brain damage due to the risk factors associated with the cold season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumihiko Yasuno
- Department of Psychiatry, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Minami
- Department of Psychiatry, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Japan
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3
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Hsu C, Tseng P, Tu Y, Lin P, Hung C, Liang C, Hsieh Y, Yang Y, Wang L, Kao H. Month of birth and mental disorders: A population-based study and validation using global meta-analysis. Acta Psychiatr Scand 2021; 144:153-167. [PMID: 33930177 PMCID: PMC8360113 DOI: 10.1111/acps.13313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Month of birth (MOB) is associated with specified mental disorders (MDs). However, whether these relationships extend to all MDs remains unclear. We investigate the association using a population-based cohort study and a meta-analysis. METHODS First, we examined patients with 34 DSM-5-classified MDs in the Taiwan national database. We estimated the relative risk ratios (RR) of each illness in each MOB relative to that in the general population and assessed the periodicity, with six further sensitivity analyses. Second, we searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for related articles through 31 December 2020. We used a random-effects model, pooled RRs with 95% confidence intervals of each MOB from the identified studies, and transformed them from MOB to relative age in a year or season. RESULTS The cohort included 1,951,777 patients. Except for posttraumatic stress disorder, dissociative disorders, feeding/eating disorders, gender dysphoria, and paraphilic disorders, the other MDs had significant MOB periodicity. The meta-analysis included 51 studies investigating 10 MDs. The youngest age at the start of school owing to MOB was associated with the highest RRs of intellectual disability (1.13), autism (1.05), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (1.13). Winter births had significant risks of schizophrenia (1.04), bipolar I disorder (1.02), and major depressive disorder (1.01), and autumn births had a significant risk of alcohol use disorder (1.02). No significant associations between season of birth and Alzheimer's disease, or eating disorders were found. CONCLUSIONS MOB is related to the risks of certain MDs. This finding provides a reference for future research on the etiology of MDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih‐Wei Hsu
- Department of PsychiatryKaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of MedicineKaohsiungTaiwan,Department of Computer Science and Information EngineeringNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan
| | - Ping‐Tao Tseng
- Prospect Clinic for Otorhinolaryngology & NeurologyKaohsiungTaiwan,Institute of Biomedical SciencesNational Sun Yat‐sen UniversityKaohsiungTaiwan,Department of PsychologyCollege of Medical and Health Science, Asia UniversityTaichungTaiwan
| | - Yu‐Kang Tu
- Institute of Epidemiology & Preventive MedicineCollege of Public HealthNational Taiwan UniversityTaipeiTaiwan,Department of DentistryNational Taiwan University HospitalTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Pao‐Yen Lin
- Department of PsychiatryKaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of MedicineKaohsiungTaiwan,Institute for Translational Research in Biomedical SciencesKaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial HospitalKaohsiungChina
| | - Chi‐Fa Hung
- Department of PsychiatryKaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of MedicineKaohsiungTaiwan
| | - Chih‐Sung Liang
- Department of Psychiatry, Beitou BranchTri‐Service General HospitalSchool of MedicineNational Defense Medical CenterTaipeiTaiwan,Graduate Institute of Medical SciencesNational Defense Medical CenterTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yun‐Yu Hsieh
- Department of PsychiatryKaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of MedicineKaohsiungTaiwan
| | - Yao‐Hsu Yang
- Health Information and Epidemiology LaboratoryChang Gung Memorial HospitalChiayi CountyTaiwan,Department of Traditional Chinese MedicineChang Gung Memorial HospitalChiayi CountyTaiwan,School of Traditional Chinese MedicineCollege of MedicineChang Gung UniversityTaoyuanTaiwan
| | - Liang‐Jen Wang
- Department of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryKaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of MedicineKaohsiungTaiwan,Department of Chinese MedicineCollege of MedicineChang Gung UniversityTaoyuanTaiwan
| | - Hung‐Yu Kao
- Department of Computer Science and Information EngineeringNational Cheng Kung UniversityTainanTaiwan
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4
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Mooldijk SS, Licher S, Vinke EJ, Vernooij MW, Ikram MK, Ikram MA. Season of birth and the risk of dementia in the population-based Rotterdam Study. Eur J Epidemiol 2021; 36:497-506. [PMID: 34002295 PMCID: PMC8159812 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-021-00755-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Early-life environmental factors have been suggested in the pathophysiology of dementia. Season of birth has previously been used as a proxy for these external exposures. We investigated the link between season of birth and the risk of dementia and further explored underlying pathways by studying structural brain changes on MRI. From the Dutch, population-based Rotterdam Study, 12,964 participants born between 1887 and 1960 were followed between 1990 and 2018 for dementia. Cox regression was conducted to assess the association between season of birth and dementia. In addition, we distinguished between mild and cold winters. The association of season of birth with structural brain markers on MRI was examined in 5237 participants. The risk of dementia in participants born in winter and fall was higher than of those born in summer (hazard ratio (HR) 1.15 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.31] for winter and HR 1.17 [95% CI 1.01–1.33] for fall), especially for Alzheimer’s disease (HR 1.23 [1.06–1.43] for winter and HR 1.15 [95% CI 0.99–1.35] for fall). The risk was particularly increased for participants born in a cold winter. Except for slightly lower hippocampus in fall born participants (β − 0.03; 95% CI − 0.06 to 0.00), we did not find associations with brain imaging markers. In conclusion, winter and fall births were associated with a higher incidence of dementia, especially of AD. We did not find evidence for structural brain changes as an underlying mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanne S Mooldijk
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Silvan Licher
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth J Vinke
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Meike W Vernooij
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mohammad Kamran Ikram
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mohammad Arfan Ikram
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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5
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Season-of-birth phenomenon in health and longevity: epidemiologic evidence and mechanistic considerations. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2020; 12:849-858. [PMID: 33298226 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174420001221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In many human populations, especially those living in regions with pronounced climatic differences between seasons, the most sensitive (prenatal and neonatal) developmental stages occur in contrasting conditions depending on the season of conception. The difference in prenatal and postnatal environments may be a factor significantly affecting human development and risk for later life chronic diseases. Factors potentially contributing to this kind of developmental programming include nutrition, outdoor temperature, infectious exposures, duration of sunlight, vitamin D synthesis, etc. Month of birth is commonly used as a proxy for exposures which vary seasonally around the perinatal period. Season-of-birth patterns have been identified for many chronic health outcomes. In this review, the research evidence for the seasonality of birth in adult-life disorders is provided and potential mechanisms underlying the phenomenon of early life seasonal programming of chronic disease and longevity are discussed.
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6
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Ptok U, Papassotiropoulos A, Maier W, Heun R. Seasonal distribution of births in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and elderly depressive patients. Eur Psychiatry 2020; 16:157-61. [PMID: 11353593 DOI: 10.1016/s0924-9338(01)00557-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
SummaryWinter births have been associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other psychiatric disorders. In the present investigation, this putative association was examined in a sample of gerontopsychiatric patients. An analysis of the quarterly birth rates of 83 patients with AD, 78 elderly depressive patients with an early onset and 74 patients with a late onset of the depressive disorder, 48 patients with both AD and depression (co-morbid patients) and 107 healthy control subjects, revealed no particular seasonal distribution for any of the diagnostic groups. In AD and co-morbid patients, controlling for the ApoE genotype did not change this finding. Logistic regression analysis revealed the expected findings that increasing age and the presence of the ApoE4 allele were associated with a higher risk of dementia. Younger age and female gender were identified as risk factors for a depressive disorder. A winter birth (birth in the first three months of the year) was not associated with any of the diagnostic subgroups.We concluded that in our sample a seasonal distribution of births was not found to increase the risk for AD or geriatric depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Ptok
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-St. 25 53105, Bonn, Germany.
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7
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Ding R, He P, Song X, Zheng X. Season of birth and dementia: Findings from Chinese elderly based on a nationwide data. Am J Hum Biol 2019; 32:e23319. [DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ruoxi Ding
- Institute of Population ResearchPeking University Beijing China
| | - Ping He
- China Center for Health Development StudiesPeking University Beijing China
| | - Xinming Song
- Institute of Population ResearchPeking University Beijing China
| | - Xiaoying Zheng
- Institute of Population ResearchPeking University Beijing China
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8
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Chmielewski P, Borysławski K. Understanding the links between month of birth, body height, and longevity: why some studies reveal that shorter people live longer – further evidence of seasonal programming from the Polish population. ANTHROPOLOGICAL REVIEW 2016. [DOI: 10.1515/anre-2016-0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a lack of agreement in the literature as to whether adult height depends on month of birth and whether height affects lifespan. Additionally, the relationship between stature and longevity involves conflicting findings and the results remain mixed due to several confounders, such as: year of birth, somatotype, relative body weight, genetic inheritance, diet, diseases, etc. Here, we hypothesize that the season of birth effect can also be involved in shaping the mysterious link between body height and longevity. To assess the links between month of birth, adult height, and longevity in the Polish population, data on 848,860 individuals, of whom 483,512 were men (57%) and 365,348 were women (43%), born in the years 1896-1988 and died in the years 2004-2008, were collected from the ‘PESEL’ database and signalments in the censuses obtained from identity card offices throughout Poland. ANOVA and the LSD test were performed. A significant relationship between month of birth and lifespan was found. Individuals born in autumn and winter months lived significantly longer than those who were born in the middle of the year (May). The amplitudes of lifespan were 16 months in men and 14 months in women. As expected, subjects of both sexes born in autumn and winter months were significantly shorter than their peers born around the middle of the year. In conclusion, the results of the study not only corroborate the theory of seasonal programming of longevity and support the idea that some undetermined factors from early stages of ontogeny and associated with season of birth have long-term effects on phenotype in later life in terms of adult height and longevity, but also bear out the hypothesis that month of birth can be another important confounding factor with respect to the relationship between adult height and longevity.
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9
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Tolppanen AM, Ahonen R, Koponen M, Lavikainen P, Purhonen M, Taipale H, Tanskanen A, Tiihonen J, Tiihonen M, Hartikainen S. Month and Season of Birth as a Risk Factor for Alzheimer's Disease: A Nationwide Nested Case-control Study. J Prev Med Public Health 2016; 49:134-8. [PMID: 27055550 PMCID: PMC4829371 DOI: 10.3961/jpmph.16.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Season of birth, an exogenous indicator of early life environment, has been related to higher risk of adverse psychiatric outcomes but the findings for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have been inconsistent. We investigated whether the month or season of birth are associated with AD. Methods: A nationwide nested case-control study including all community-dwellers with clinically verified AD diagnosed in 2005 to 2012 (n=70 719) and up to four age- sex- and region of residence-matched controls (n=282 862) residing in Finland. Associations between month and season of birth and AD were studied with conditional logistic regression. Results: Month of birth was not associated with AD (p=0.09). No strong associations were observed with season (p=0.13), although in comparison to winter births (December-February) summer births (June-August) were associated with higher odds of AD (odds ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.05). However, the absolute difference in prevalence in winter births was only 0.5% (prevalence of those born in winter were 31.7% and 32.2% for cases and controls, respectively). Conclusions: Although our findings do not support the hypothesis that season of birth is related to AD/dementia risk, they do not invalidate the developmental origins of health and disease hypothesis in late-life cognition. It is possible that season does not adequately capture the early life circumstances, or that other (postnatal) risk factors such as lifestyle or socioeconomic factors overrule the impact of prenatal and perinatal factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Maija Tolppanen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Research Center for Comparative Effectiveness and Patient Safety, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Riitta Ahonen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Marjaana Koponen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Kuopio Research Center of Geriatric Care, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Piia Lavikainen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Kuopio Research Center of Geriatric Care, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Maija Purhonen
- Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Heidi Taipale
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Kuopio Research Center of Geriatric Care, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Tanskanen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Tiihonen
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Niuvanniemi Hospital, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Miia Tiihonen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Kuopio Research Center of Geriatric Care, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Sirpa Hartikainen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.,Kuopio Research Center of Geriatric Care, School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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10
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Prasher VP, Kapadia HM, Haque MS. Season of birth: dementia in Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down Syndrome. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2008; 23:441-2. [PMID: 17691078 DOI: 10.1002/gps.1883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- V P Prasher
- Liverpool John Moore University, Monyhull, Birmingham, UK.
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11
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Chotai J, Lundberg M, Adolfsson R. Variations in personality traits among adolescents and adults according to their season of birth in the general population: further evidence. PERSONALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES 2003. [DOI: 10.1016/s0191-8869(02)00306-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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12
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Chotai J, Salander Renberg E. Season of birth variations in suicide methods in relation to any history of psychiatric contacts support an independent suicidality trait. J Affect Disord 2002; 69:69-81. [PMID: 12103454 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-0327(00)00379-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to reports on season of birth variations in suicidal behaviour as well as in cerebrospinal fluid levels of monoamine metabolites, we investigated season of birth variations in suicide methods for completed suicides in relation to any history of psychiatric contacts. Relationships with the psychiatric diagnoses for those with psychiatric contacts were also studied. METHODS Sociodemographic variables and suicide methods were examined for all the 693 suicide victims during 1961-1980 in Västerbotten, Sweden. Information on any history of psychiatric contacts was obtained from psychiatric in-patient and out-patient records. RESULTS Gender differences in the choice of suicide method were found in the group without any history of psychiatric contacts, but not in those with such a history. Only those without a history of psychiatric contacts showed season of birth variations for suicide methods -- those born during February to April were significantly more likely, and those born during October to January significantly less likely, to have preferred hanging rather than poisoning or petrol gases. These associations were stronger for the determined suicides, for males, and for urban residence. Suicide victims with a history of psychiatric contacts were significantly younger than those without. LIMITATIONS No psychological autopsies for those without psychiatric contacts. No information on eventual contacts with general practitioners. No measures of monoamine neurotransmitters were available. CONCLUSIONS Season of birth association for suicide methods is likely to be mediated by a suicidality trait independently of specific major psychiatric disorders. Monoamine neurotransmitters, particularly serotonin, are likely to underlie such a trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayanti Chotai
- Division of Psychiatry, Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Umeå, Umeå, Sweden.
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13
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Doblhammer G, Vaupel JW. Lifespan depends on month of birth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2001; 98:2934-9. [PMID: 11226344 PMCID: PMC30243 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.041431898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2000] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Month of birth influences adult life expectancy at ages 50+. Why? In two countries of the Northern Hemisphere-Austria and Denmark-people born in autumn (October-December) live longer than those born in spring (April-June). Data for Australia show that, in the Southern Hemisphere, the pattern is shifted by half a year. The lifespan pattern of British immigrants to Australia is similar to that of Austrians and Danes and significantly different from that of Australians. These findings are based on population data with more than a million observations and little or no selectivity. The differences in lifespan are independent of the seasonal distribution of deaths and the social differences in the seasonal distribution of births. In the Northern Hemisphere, the excess mortality in the first year of life of infants born in spring does not support the explanation of selective infant survival. Instead, remaining life expectancy at age 50 appears to depend on factors that arise in utero or early in infancy and that increase susceptibility to diseases later in life. This result is consistent with the finding that, at the turn of the last century, infants born in autumn had higher birth weights than those born in other seasons. Furthermore, differences in adult lifespan by month of birth decrease over time and are significantly smaller in more recent cohorts, which benefited from substantial improvements in maternal and infant health.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Doblhammer
- Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Doberanerstrasse 114, 18057 Rostock, Germany.
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