title: Seasonal birth patterns of neurological disorders.
abstract: Existing seasonal birth studies were reviewed for multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), epilepsy, cerebral palsy, congenital malformations of the central nervous system and mental retardation. Epilepsy appears to have the most consistent pattern, with an excess of births in winter and a deficit in September. MS, ALS and possibly Parkinson's disease appear to have an excess of spring births. Studies of cerebral palsy are not conclusive, although there are suggestions that there may be an excess of summer births. The findings for Alzheimer's disease, congenital malformations of the central nervous system, and mental retardation are contradictory and insufficient to draw any conclusions.
authors.affiliation: Stanley Foundation Research Programs, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Bethesda, MD, USA.
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Torrey
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rawlings
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Yolken
mesh_terms: D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons