The News:
Parental Warning: Second-hand Smoke May Trigger Nicotine Dependence Symptoms In Kids
ScienceDaily (Sep. 30, 2008) — Parents who smoke cigarettes around their kids in cars and homes beware – second-hand smoke may trigger symptoms of nicotine dependence in children.
The findings are published in the September edition of the journal Addictive Behaviors in a joint study from nine Canadian institutions.
"Increased exposure to second-hand smoke, both in cars and homes, was associated with an increased likelihood of children reporting nicotine dependence symptoms, even though these children had never smoked," says Dr. Jennifer O'Loughlin, senior author of the study, a professor at the Université de Montréal's Department of Social and Preventive Medicine and a researcher at the Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Addictive Behaviors.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Research news: Dark energy-is it merely an illusion?
The News:
Dark Energy: Is It Merely An Illusion?
ScienceDaily (Sep. 29, 2008) — Dark energy is at the heart of one of the greatest mysteries of modern physics, but it may be nothing more than an illusion, according physicists at Oxford University.
The problem facing astrophysicists is that they have to explain why the universe appears to be expanding at an ever increasing rate. The most popular explanation is that some sort of force is pushing the accelerating the universe's expansion. That force is generally attributed to a mysterious dark energy.
Although dark energy may seem a bit contrived to some, the Oxford theorists are proposing an even more outrageous alternative. They point out that it's possible that we simply live in a very special place in the universe - specifically, we're in a huge void where the density of matter is particularly low. The suggestion flies in the face of the Copernican Principle, which is one of the most useful and widely held tenants in physics. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Physical Review Letters
Dark Energy: Is It Merely An Illusion?
ScienceDaily (Sep. 29, 2008) — Dark energy is at the heart of one of the greatest mysteries of modern physics, but it may be nothing more than an illusion, according physicists at Oxford University.
The problem facing astrophysicists is that they have to explain why the universe appears to be expanding at an ever increasing rate. The most popular explanation is that some sort of force is pushing the accelerating the universe's expansion. That force is generally attributed to a mysterious dark energy.
Although dark energy may seem a bit contrived to some, the Oxford theorists are proposing an even more outrageous alternative. They point out that it's possible that we simply live in a very special place in the universe - specifically, we're in a huge void where the density of matter is particularly low. The suggestion flies in the face of the Copernican Principle, which is one of the most useful and widely held tenants in physics. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Physical Review Letters
Friday, September 26, 2008
Research news: "Huge step forward" in stem cells
The News:
"Huge step forward" in stem cells
Adult cells regress safely, report says
By Rob SteinThe Washington Post
Article Last Updated: 09/26/2008 12:20:39 AM MDT
WASHINGTON — Scientists are reporting that they have overcome a major obstacle to using a promising alternative to embryonic stem cells, bolstering the prospects for bypassing the political and ethical tempest that has embroiled hopes for a new generation of medical treatments.
The researchers said they found a safe way to coax adult cells to regress into an embryonic state, alleviating what had been the most worrisome uncertainty about developing the cells into potential cures.
"We have removed a major roadblock for translating this into a clinical setting," said Konrad Hochedlinger, a Harvard University stem-cell researcher whose research was published online Thursday by the journal Science.
The development is the latest in the rapidly advancing and politically charged field of stem-cell research.
"This is a huge step forward — it could be the breakthrough we've been looking for," said Robert Lanza, a stem-cell researcher at Advanced Cell Technology in Worcester, Mass.
Embryonic stem cells are believed capable of becoming any type of cell in the body. Researchers hope eventually to use them to create replacement tissue and body parts tailored to individual patients. But the work has been mired in controversy because the cells were obtained by destroying very early embryos. As a result, President Bush has restricted federal funding for such work.
Scientists last year shook up the scientific and political landscape by discovering how to manipulate the genes of adult cells to revert them into the equivalent of embryonic cells — entities dubbed "induced pluripotent stem" or "iPS" cells — which could then be transformed into any type of cell in the body. Subsequent work has found that the cells can alleviate symptoms of Parkinson's disease and sickle cell anemia in mice. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Science (click on full text (pdf) in left column under "Article Views")
"Huge step forward" in stem cells
Adult cells regress safely, report says
By Rob SteinThe Washington Post
Article Last Updated: 09/26/2008 12:20:39 AM MDT
WASHINGTON — Scientists are reporting that they have overcome a major obstacle to using a promising alternative to embryonic stem cells, bolstering the prospects for bypassing the political and ethical tempest that has embroiled hopes for a new generation of medical treatments.
The researchers said they found a safe way to coax adult cells to regress into an embryonic state, alleviating what had been the most worrisome uncertainty about developing the cells into potential cures.
"We have removed a major roadblock for translating this into a clinical setting," said Konrad Hochedlinger, a Harvard University stem-cell researcher whose research was published online Thursday by the journal Science.
The development is the latest in the rapidly advancing and politically charged field of stem-cell research.
"This is a huge step forward — it could be the breakthrough we've been looking for," said Robert Lanza, a stem-cell researcher at Advanced Cell Technology in Worcester, Mass.
Embryonic stem cells are believed capable of becoming any type of cell in the body. Researchers hope eventually to use them to create replacement tissue and body parts tailored to individual patients. But the work has been mired in controversy because the cells were obtained by destroying very early embryos. As a result, President Bush has restricted federal funding for such work.
Scientists last year shook up the scientific and political landscape by discovering how to manipulate the genes of adult cells to revert them into the equivalent of embryonic cells — entities dubbed "induced pluripotent stem" or "iPS" cells — which could then be transformed into any type of cell in the body. Subsequent work has found that the cells can alleviate symptoms of Parkinson's disease and sickle cell anemia in mice. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Science (click on full text (pdf) in left column under "Article Views")
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Research news: Political conservatives fear chaos; Liberals fear emptiness
The News:
Political Conservatives Fear Chaos; Liberals Fear Emptiness
ScienceDaily (Sep. 25, 2008) — Political conservatives operate out of a fear of chaos and absence of order while political liberals operate out of a fear of emptiness, a new Northwestern University study finds.
“Social scientists long have assumed that liberals are more rational and less fearful than conservatives, but we find that both groups view the world as a dangerous place,” says Dan McAdams, study co-author and professor of human development and psychology at Northwestern University. “It’s just that their fears emerge differently.”
To better understand the differences between politically conservative Christian Americans and their liberal counterparts, McAdams and Northwestern University co-author Michelle Albaugh asked 128 socially active churchgoers this question: What if there were no God? Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the Journal of Research in Personality.
Political Conservatives Fear Chaos; Liberals Fear Emptiness
ScienceDaily (Sep. 25, 2008) — Political conservatives operate out of a fear of chaos and absence of order while political liberals operate out of a fear of emptiness, a new Northwestern University study finds.
“Social scientists long have assumed that liberals are more rational and less fearful than conservatives, but we find that both groups view the world as a dangerous place,” says Dan McAdams, study co-author and professor of human development and psychology at Northwestern University. “It’s just that their fears emerge differently.”
To better understand the differences between politically conservative Christian Americans and their liberal counterparts, McAdams and Northwestern University co-author Michelle Albaugh asked 128 socially active churchgoers this question: What if there were no God? Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the Journal of Research in Personality.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Research news: Caffeine experts at Johns Hopkins call for warning labels for energy drinks
The News:
Caffeine experts at Johns Hopkins call for warning labels for energy drinks
Caffeinated energy drinks may present health risks
Johns Hopkins scientists who have spent decades researching the effects of caffeine report that a slew of caffeinated energy drinks now on the market should carry prominent labels that note caffeine doses and warn of potential health risks for consumers.
"The caffeine content of energy drinks varies over a 10-fold range, with some containing the equivalent of 14 cans of Coca-Cola, yet the caffeine amounts are often unlabeled and few include warnings about the potential health risks of caffeine intoxication," says Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., one of the authors of the article that appears in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence this month.
The market for these drinks stands at an estimated $5.4 billion in the United States and is expanding at a rate of 55 percent annually. Advertising campaigns, which principally target teens and young adults, promote the performance-enhancing and stimulant effects of energy drinks and appear to glorify drug use. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Caffeine experts at Johns Hopkins call for warning labels for energy drinks
Caffeinated energy drinks may present health risks
Johns Hopkins scientists who have spent decades researching the effects of caffeine report that a slew of caffeinated energy drinks now on the market should carry prominent labels that note caffeine doses and warn of potential health risks for consumers.
"The caffeine content of energy drinks varies over a 10-fold range, with some containing the equivalent of 14 cans of Coca-Cola, yet the caffeine amounts are often unlabeled and few include warnings about the potential health risks of caffeine intoxication," says Roland Griffiths, Ph.D., one of the authors of the article that appears in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence this month.
The market for these drinks stands at an estimated $5.4 billion in the United States and is expanding at a rate of 55 percent annually. Advertising campaigns, which principally target teens and young adults, promote the performance-enhancing and stimulant effects of energy drinks and appear to glorify drug use. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Research news: Quota systems help keep fisheries afloat
The News:
Study: Quota Systems Help Keep Fisheries Afloat
by Richard Harris
Listen Now [4 min 12 sec] add to playlist
All Things Considered, September 18, 2008 · Thirty percent of the world's commercial fisheries have collapsed over the past few decades, so scientists, fishermen and managers have been trying to figure out how to preserve what's left — while still putting seafood on people's tables.
A new study in Science magazine finds that fishermen using a quota system are, in most cases, helping to maintain a healthy fish population. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Science.
Study: Quota Systems Help Keep Fisheries Afloat
by Richard Harris
Listen Now [4 min 12 sec] add to playlist
All Things Considered, September 18, 2008 · Thirty percent of the world's commercial fisheries have collapsed over the past few decades, so scientists, fishermen and managers have been trying to figure out how to preserve what's left — while still putting seafood on people's tables.
A new study in Science magazine finds that fishermen using a quota system are, in most cases, helping to maintain a healthy fish population. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Science.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Research news: Cold shoulder really is chilling
The News:
Cold shoulder really is chilling
Scientists say those who feel isolated or rejected sense that they're colder.
By Denise GelleneLos Angeles Times
Article Created: 09/19/2008 11:28:51 PM MDT
Social isolation is often described as "cold and lonely" — but does it actually feel cold?
New research says the answer is yes. Just thinking about rejection can make a room feel chillier, according to a report in the journal Psychological Science.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto, also found people who felt isolated preferred warm drinks over cold ones — presumably to make themselves feel better.
The research shows there is a psychological basis behind metaphors linking cold temperatures to feelings of loneliness, despair or sadness, said psychologist and lead author Chen-Bo Zhong.
"Our mind is not independent of our body," he said. "Perceptions we think of as purely cognitive also involve physical perceptions."
The initial experiment involved 65 subjects. Half were instructed to think about a time when they felt socially isolated, while remaining subjects were told to recall a time when they felt accepted.
When asked to estimate the temperature of the room, people assigned to ruminate about rejection said 71 degrees, about 5 degrees cooler than the temperature given by the second group. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Psychological Science.
Cold shoulder really is chilling
Scientists say those who feel isolated or rejected sense that they're colder.
By Denise GelleneLos Angeles Times
Article Created: 09/19/2008 11:28:51 PM MDT
Social isolation is often described as "cold and lonely" — but does it actually feel cold?
New research says the answer is yes. Just thinking about rejection can make a room feel chillier, according to a report in the journal Psychological Science.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto, also found people who felt isolated preferred warm drinks over cold ones — presumably to make themselves feel better.
The research shows there is a psychological basis behind metaphors linking cold temperatures to feelings of loneliness, despair or sadness, said psychologist and lead author Chen-Bo Zhong.
"Our mind is not independent of our body," he said. "Perceptions we think of as purely cognitive also involve physical perceptions."
The initial experiment involved 65 subjects. Half were instructed to think about a time when they felt socially isolated, while remaining subjects were told to recall a time when they felt accepted.
When asked to estimate the temperature of the room, people assigned to ruminate about rejection said 71 degrees, about 5 degrees cooler than the temperature given by the second group. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Psychological Science.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Research news: Liberal? conservative? Blame it on a fear factor
The News:
Liberal? Conservative? Blame it on a fear factor
A new study argues the choice is tied to DNA, and one camp is scared.
By Denise Gellene Los Angeles Times
Article Launched: 09/19/2008 12:30:00 AM MDT
Die-hard liberals and conservatives aren't made; they're born. It's literally in their DNA.
That's the suggestion of a study by a group of researchers who wanted to see if there was a biological basis for people's political attitudes.
They found to their surprise that opinions on such contentious issues as gun control, pacifism and capital punishment are strongly associated with physiological traits that are probably present at birth.
The key is the differing levels of fear that people naturally feel.
"What is revolutionary about this paper is that it shows the path from genes to physiology to behavior," said James H. Fowler, a political-science professor at the University of California, San Diego, who was not involved in the research.
The researchers, whose findings were published today in the journal Science, looked at 46 people — liberals who supported foreign aid, immigration, pacifism and gun control; and conservatives who advocated defense spending, capital punishment, patriotism and the Iraq war. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Science.
Liberal? Conservative? Blame it on a fear factor
A new study argues the choice is tied to DNA, and one camp is scared.
By Denise Gellene Los Angeles Times
Article Launched: 09/19/2008 12:30:00 AM MDT
Die-hard liberals and conservatives aren't made; they're born. It's literally in their DNA.
That's the suggestion of a study by a group of researchers who wanted to see if there was a biological basis for people's political attitudes.
They found to their surprise that opinions on such contentious issues as gun control, pacifism and capital punishment are strongly associated with physiological traits that are probably present at birth.
The key is the differing levels of fear that people naturally feel.
"What is revolutionary about this paper is that it shows the path from genes to physiology to behavior," said James H. Fowler, a political-science professor at the University of California, San Diego, who was not involved in the research.
The researchers, whose findings were published today in the journal Science, looked at 46 people — liberals who supported foreign aid, immigration, pacifism and gun control; and conservatives who advocated defense spending, capital punishment, patriotism and the Iraq war. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Science.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Research news: Study links levels of BPA, health concerns
The News:
Study links levels of BPA, health concerns
But many insist chemical is safe in trace amounts
By Lindsey Layton The Washington Post
Article Last Updated: 09/17/2008 01:22:14 AM MDT
WASHINGTON — The first large study in humans of a chemical widely used in everyday plastics has found that people with higher levels of bisphenol A had higher rates of heart disease, diabetes and liver abnormalities, a finding that immediately became the focus of the increasingly heated debate over the safety of the chemical.
The research, published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association by a team of British and American scientists, compared the health status of 1,455 men and women with the levels of the chemical, known as BPA, in their urine.
The researchers divided the subjects into four statistical groupings according to their BPA levels and found that those in the quartile with the highest concentrations were nearly three times as likely to have cardiovascular disease than those with the lowest levels, and 2.4 times as likely to have diabetes. Higher BPA levels were also associated with abnormal concentrations of three liver enzymes.
Although the researchers described them as preliminary, the findings were the buzz of a public hearing the Food and Drug Administration held in Rockville, Md., Tuesday to discuss whether BPA is safe for continued use in food packaging and liquid containers. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association.
Study links levels of BPA, health concerns
But many insist chemical is safe in trace amounts
By Lindsey Layton The Washington Post
Article Last Updated: 09/17/2008 01:22:14 AM MDT
WASHINGTON — The first large study in humans of a chemical widely used in everyday plastics has found that people with higher levels of bisphenol A had higher rates of heart disease, diabetes and liver abnormalities, a finding that immediately became the focus of the increasingly heated debate over the safety of the chemical.
The research, published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association by a team of British and American scientists, compared the health status of 1,455 men and women with the levels of the chemical, known as BPA, in their urine.
The researchers divided the subjects into four statistical groupings according to their BPA levels and found that those in the quartile with the highest concentrations were nearly three times as likely to have cardiovascular disease than those with the lowest levels, and 2.4 times as likely to have diabetes. Higher BPA levels were also associated with abnormal concentrations of three liver enzymes.
Although the researchers described them as preliminary, the findings were the buzz of a public hearing the Food and Drug Administration held in Rockville, Md., Tuesday to discuss whether BPA is safe for continued use in food packaging and liquid containers. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Research news: Old Growth Forests Are Valuable Carbon Sinks
The News:
Old Growth Forests Are Valuable Carbon Sinks
ScienceDaily (Sep. 14, 2008) — Contrary to 40 years of conventional wisdom, a new analysis published in the journal Nature suggests that old growth forests are usually "carbon sinks" - they continue to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and mitigate climate change for centuries.
However, these old growth forests around the world are not protected by international treaties and have been considered of no significance in the national "carbon budgets" as outlined in the Kyoto Protocol. That perspective was largely based on findings of a single study from the late 1960s which had become accepted theory, and scientists now say it needs to be changed. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Nature.
Old Growth Forests Are Valuable Carbon Sinks
ScienceDaily (Sep. 14, 2008) — Contrary to 40 years of conventional wisdom, a new analysis published in the journal Nature suggests that old growth forests are usually "carbon sinks" - they continue to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and mitigate climate change for centuries.
However, these old growth forests around the world are not protected by international treaties and have been considered of no significance in the national "carbon budgets" as outlined in the Kyoto Protocol. That perspective was largely based on findings of a single study from the late 1960s which had become accepted theory, and scientists now say it needs to be changed. Read on...
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the journal Nature.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Research News: Arthroscopic Surgery Provides Few Benefits
The News:
Arthroscopic Surgery Provides Few Benefits
Patti Neighmond - National Public Radio, All Things Considered 9/10/08
It's estimated that more than half of Americans over 50 suffer from osteoarthritis, a form of arthritis that strikes the knee, causes pain and stiffness, and can make even the simplest exercise like walking difficult. Now a study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that one form of surgery used to lessen joint pain is no better in the long run than physical therapy and medication.
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Arthroscopic Surgery Provides Few Benefits
Patti Neighmond - National Public Radio, All Things Considered 9/10/08
It's estimated that more than half of Americans over 50 suffer from osteoarthritis, a form of arthritis that strikes the knee, causes pain and stiffness, and can make even the simplest exercise like walking difficult. Now a study in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that one form of surgery used to lessen joint pain is no better in the long run than physical therapy and medication.
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Research News: Beat the fat gene — exercise
The News:
Beat the fat gene — exercise
Moderate daily activity, 3 to 4 hours' worth, can overcome the variant, a new study says.
By Lindsey Tanner, The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 09/09/2008 12:24:04 AM MDT
CHICAGO — Maybe you CAN blame being fat on your genes. But there's a way to overcome that family history — just get three to four hours of moderate activity a day. Sound pretty daunting? Not for the Amish of Lancaster County, Pa., who were the focus of a new study on a common genetic variation that makes people more likely to gain weight. It turns out the variant's effects can be blocked with physical activity — lots of it. Scientists believe about 30 percent of white people of European ancestry have this variant, including the Amish, and that may partly explain why so many people are overweight. But fighting that fat factor may be easier in the Amish community's 19th-century rural lifestyle. They don't use cars or modern appliances.
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Beat the fat gene — exercise
Moderate daily activity, 3 to 4 hours' worth, can overcome the variant, a new study says.
By Lindsey Tanner, The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 09/09/2008 12:24:04 AM MDT
CHICAGO — Maybe you CAN blame being fat on your genes. But there's a way to overcome that family history — just get three to four hours of moderate activity a day. Sound pretty daunting? Not for the Amish of Lancaster County, Pa., who were the focus of a new study on a common genetic variation that makes people more likely to gain weight. It turns out the variant's effects can be blocked with physical activity — lots of it. Scientists believe about 30 percent of white people of European ancestry have this variant, including the Amish, and that may partly explain why so many people are overweight. But fighting that fat factor may be easier in the Amish community's 19th-century rural lifestyle. They don't use cars or modern appliances.
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Research News: Statement on Columbia University Study on Measles Virus Vaccine and Autism
The News:
Statement on Columbia University Study on Measles Virus Vaccine and Autism
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Marguerite Colston, Autism Society of America
ASA welcomes study, continues to call for aggressive research on all environmental factors
On September 4, 2008 the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University released a study entitled, “Lack of Association between Measles Virus Vaccine and Autism with Enteropathy: A Case-Control Study.” The Autism Society of America welcomes the efforts of these researchers in addressing an issue that is of great importance to those in the autism community. There is a clear and present need for aggressive research that probes further into all possible environmental causes of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), particularly because findings may help us approach treatment and prevention more effectively.
The Research:
Read more about this study in the Public Library of Science (PLoS One).
Statement on Columbia University Study on Measles Virus Vaccine and Autism
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Marguerite Colston, Autism Society of America
ASA welcomes study, continues to call for aggressive research on all environmental factors
On September 4, 2008 the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University released a study entitled, “Lack of Association between Measles Virus Vaccine and Autism with Enteropathy: A Case-Control Study.” The Autism Society of America welcomes the efforts of these researchers in addressing an issue that is of great importance to those in the autism community. There is a clear and present need for aggressive research that probes further into all possible environmental causes of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), particularly because findings may help us approach treatment and prevention more effectively.
The Research:
Read more about this study in the Public Library of Science (PLoS One).
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Research News: 'Bonding Gene' Could Help Men Stay Married
The News:
'Bonding Gene' Could Help Men Stay Married
By E.J. Mundell
HealthDay Reporter
Sep 2, 7:01 PM ET
MONDAY, Sept. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Whether a man has one type of gene versus another could help decide whether he's good "husband material," a new study suggests. A study of Swedish twin brothers found that differences in a gene modulating the hormone vasopressin were strongly tied to how well each man fared in marriage.
You can also read about this in the Denver Post.
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the Proceedings of the National Academcy of Sciences.
'Bonding Gene' Could Help Men Stay Married
By E.J. Mundell
HealthDay Reporter
Sep 2, 7:01 PM ET
MONDAY, Sept. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Whether a man has one type of gene versus another could help decide whether he's good "husband material," a new study suggests. A study of Swedish twin brothers found that differences in a gene modulating the hormone vasopressin were strongly tied to how well each man fared in marriage.
You can also read about this in the Denver Post.
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the Proceedings of the National Academcy of Sciences.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Research News: Bipolar disorder in children linked to older fathers
The News:
Bipolar disorder in children linked to older fathers
A new study says the risks start increasing around age 40 and are strongest in men 55 and older. The top theory is that sperm likely mutates as men age.
By Lindsey Tanner, The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 09/01/2008 10:56:09 PM MDT
CHICAGO — Children born to older fathers face a greater chance of developing bipolar disorder, according to one of the largest studies linking mental illness with advanced paternal age. Previous research has connected schizophrenia and autism with older dads, and a Danish study published last year added bipolar disorder to the list. The new study led by researchers at Sweden's Karolin ska Institute strengthens the evidence. The leading theory is that older men's sperm may be more likely to develop mutations. Even so, the chances of a person becoming bipolar are so low that the study's authors said it shouldn't dissuade older men from becoming fathers.
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
Bipolar disorder in children linked to older fathers
A new study says the risks start increasing around age 40 and are strongest in men 55 and older. The top theory is that sperm likely mutates as men age.
By Lindsey Tanner, The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 09/01/2008 10:56:09 PM MDT
CHICAGO — Children born to older fathers face a greater chance of developing bipolar disorder, according to one of the largest studies linking mental illness with advanced paternal age. Previous research has connected schizophrenia and autism with older dads, and a Danish study published last year added bipolar disorder to the list. The new study led by researchers at Sweden's Karolin ska Institute strengthens the evidence. The leading theory is that older men's sperm may be more likely to develop mutations. Even so, the chances of a person becoming bipolar are so low that the study's authors said it shouldn't dissuade older men from becoming fathers.
The Research:
Read the research behind this story in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
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