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Paternal age as a risk factor for schizophrenia: how important is it?
E Fuller Torrey1, Stephen Buka, Tyrone D Cannon
1The Stanley Medical Research Institute, 8401 Connecticut Ave., Suite 200, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA. torreyf@stanleyresearch.org
Schizophrenia Research
|August 18, 2009
Summary
Advanced paternal age is a risk factor for schizophrenia, particularly for fathers aged 55 and over. This risk is intermediate compared to other known factors, possibly due to germline mutations.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Genetics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Advanced paternal age is a proposed risk factor for schizophrenia.
- Previous studies suggested it could account for a significant portion of cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between advanced paternal age and schizophrenia risk.
- To conduct a meta-analysis of existing studies and new data.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 25,025 offspring from the Collaborative Perinatal Project (CPP).
- Meta-analysis of 10 studies including the CPP data.
- Examination of paternal age thresholds (35, 45, 55 years and older).
Main Results:
- No significant difference in mean paternal age for schizophrenia cases in the CPP.
- Meta-analysis showed increased odds ratios for fathers aged 35+ (1.28), 45+ (1.38), and 55+ (2.22).
- The risk was primarily significant for fathers aged 55 and over, who represented 0.6% of births.
Conclusions:
- Advanced paternal age is a risk factor for schizophrenia, especially for fathers 55 and older.
- The magnitude of this risk is intermediate compared to other known factors.
- Potential mechanisms include germline mutations and chromosomal aberrations.
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