Neuroepidemiology 2000 Jul-Aug;19(4):177-85
Seasonal Birth Patterns of Neurological Disorders
Torrey EF, Miller J, Rawlings R, Yolken RH
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.