BIRTH SEASON AFFECTS YOUR MOOD IN LATER LIFE
New research shows
that the season you are born has a significant impact on your risk of
developing mood disorders. People born at certain times of year may have a
greater chance of developing certain types of affective temperaments, which in
turn can lead to mood disorders (affective disorders). This work is being
presented at the European College of CNP Congress in Berlin.
Seasons of birth
have traditionally been associated with certain personality traits, such as
novelty seeking, and various folklore justifications, such as astrology, have
sought to explain these associations. Now a group of researchers from Budapest,
Hungary, are presenting a study which links birth season with temperament.
According to lead
researcher, Assistant Professor Xenia Gonda, "Biochemical studies have
shown that the season in which you are born has an influence on certain
monoamine neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin, which is
detectable even in adult life. This led us to believe that birth season may
have a longer-lasting effect. Our work looked at over 400 subjects and matched
their birth season to personality types in later life. Basically, it seems that
when you are born may increase or decrease your chance of developing certain
mood disorders."
"We can't yet
say anything about the mechanisms involved. What we are now looking at is to
see if there are genetic markers which are related to season of birth and mood
disorder."
The group found the
following statistically significant trends:
· cyclothymic
temperament (characterized by rapid, frequent swings between sad and cheerful
moods), is significantly higher in those born in the summer, in comparison with
those born in the winter.
· Hyperthymic
temperament -- a tendency to be excessively positive -- were significantly
higher in those born in spring and summer.
· Those born in the
winter were significantly less prone to irritable temperament than those born
at other times of the year.
· Those born in
autumn show a significantly lower tendency to depressive temperament than those
born in winter.
Commenting for the
European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, Professor Eduard Vieta (Barcelona)
XY said: "Seasons affect our mood and behavior. Even the season at our
birth may influence our subsequent risk for developing certain medical
conditions, including some mental disorders. What's new from this group of
researchers is the influence of season at birth and temperament. Temperaments
are not disorders but biologically-driven behavioral and emotional trends.
Although both genetic and environmental factors are involved in one's temperament,
now we know that the season at birth plays a role too. And the finding of
"high mood" tendency (hyperthymic temperament) for those born in
summer is quite intriguing."
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