Risks and Familial Coaggregation of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among First-Degree Relatives of Individuals With...

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Psychiatry
• Oncology

Background:

• Previous studies suggest associations between major mental disorders (MMDs) and colorectal cancer (CRC).
• The familial risk of MMDs in relatives of CRC patients remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the risk of MMDs in first-degree relatives (FDRs) of individuals diagnosed with CRC.
• To identify specific MMDs and familial relationships associated with increased risk.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for a large-scale cohort study.
• Identified FDRs of CRC patients as the index group and matched them with a control group.
• Employed Poisson regression to estimate relative risks and 95% confidence intervals for MMDs.

Main Results:

• FDRs of CRC patients showed a higher risk of autism spectrum disorder, particularly males with fathers diagnosed with CRC.
• Individuals with a son diagnosed with CRC had an increased risk of bipolar disorder, especially females.
• Males whose mothers had CRC exhibited higher risks of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and general anxiety disorder.

Conclusions:

• This study reveals a significant association between FDRs of CRC patients and an elevated risk of MMDs.
• The findings suggest potential shared genetic or environmental etiologies warranting further investigation.
• Genetic studies are recommended to elucidate the complex underlying mechanisms connecting CRC and MMDs in families.