Meta-analysis of paternal age and schizophrenia risk in male versus female offspring.
BACKGROUND
Advanced paternal age (APA) is a reported risk factor for schizophrenia in the offspring. We performed a meta-analysis of this association, considering the effect of gender and study design.


METHODS
We identified articles by searching Pub Med, PsychInfo, ISI, and EMBASE, and the reference lists of identified studies. Previously unpublished data from the Northern Finland 1966 Birth Cohort (NFBC 1966) study were also included.


RESULTS
There were 6 cohort studies and 6 case-control studies that met the inclusion criteria. In both study designs, there was a significant increase in risk of schizophrenia in the offspring of older fathers (≥30) compared to a reference paternal age of 25-29, with no gender differences. The relative risk (RR) in the oldest fathers (≥50) was 1.66 [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.46-1.89, P < 0.01]. A significant increase in risk was also found for younger fathers (<25) in males (RR = 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02-1.14, P = 0.01) but not females (RR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.97-1.14, P = 0.28). The population attributable risk percentage (PAR%) was 10% for paternal age ≥30 and 5% for paternal age <25.


CONCLUSIONS
Both APA (≥30) and younger paternal age (<25) increase the risk of schizophrenia; younger paternal age may be associated with an increased risk in males but not females. This risk factor increases the risk of schizophrenia as much as any single candidate gene of risk. The mechanism of these associations is not known and may differ for older and younger fathers.
Miller
Brian
B
Department of Psychiatry, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA. brmiller@mail.mcg.edu
Messias
Erick
E
Miettunen
Jouko
J
Alaräisänen
Antti
A
Järvelin
Marjo-Riita
MR
Koponen
Hannu
H
Räsänen
Pirkko
P
Isohanni
Matti
M
Kirkpatrick
Brian
B
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010331:Paternal Age; D012306:Risk; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult