Author: Dennis Jackson
One of the most typical and dangerous mental diseases is bipolar disorder. It can cause extreme emotional swings in those who have this disorder. Considerable risk of suicide and early death exists for the 2% of the population who suffer from it. It is proven that bipolar disorder is strongly heritable; If one of the parents has the disorder, there is a 15% to 30% chance that it will be transmitted to the kid.
Bipolar disorder and the parents’ age, how are they connected?
Scientists carried out new research at the ECNP Congress in Vienna. It was released in the peer-reviewed issue of European Neuropsychopharmacology. Bipolar disorder is more likely to impact children of parents who are either older or younger. The risk increases if your mom or dad is under 20 or over 35 or 45. Parental age affects several neuropsychiatric conditions, as well as fertility. The study’s findings turned out to be a little unexpected because younger parents have a high risk of having a child with bipolar disorder, as well as older parents.
The high risk is subtle, yet it exists. There is a hypothesis that socioeconomic issues, a lack of support, stress, or immunological issues may have impact on younger parents. On the other side, elder parents may suffer from genetic factors, although it is still not proven.
What do studies show?
The researchers conducted a systematic evaluation of research from several nations examining how age impacts bipolar illness. They found that older men were likelier to have a child with bipolar disorder than other groups. These dads had a 29% higher probability of having a kid with bipolar illness than fathers between the ages of 25 and 29, whereas older mothers had a 20% probability.
All results were reviewed for possible bias, such as the age of the second parent, and family medical history. We must emphasize that this danger is moderate, and it should be taken into consideration.
What other factors may have an impact on having bipolar disorder?
The researchers intend to explore some environmental aspects that may influence both the likelihood of developing bipolar disorder and the severity of the condition. For instance, the probability of various psychiatric diseases may be impacted by exposure to pollution, climatic changes, and urbanization.
Additionally, they want to know if these aspects influence the condition’s progress positively or negatively.
The research focuses on various important research issues, such as the potential for early prevention and treatment. For instance, in everyday clinical settings, it is essential to be aware that young people with BD who are in their manic periods are in more hazardous sexual conduct, which has been linked to a higher chance of pregnancy.
Final Words
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by extreme mood swings from depression to mania. The symptoms include periods of abnormally elevated mood (mania) and/or unusually low mood (depression). People who have bipolar disorder often experience difficulties managing their emotions. While bipolar disorder has been associated with adults, recent research suggests that children of older or younger parents are at higher risk of the mental illness.