Fetal Origins of Mental Disorders? An Answer Based on Mendelian Randomization.

ABSTRACT: The Barker hypothesis states that low birth weight (BW) is associated with higher risk of adult onset diseases, including mental disorders like schizophrenia, major depressive disorder (MDD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The main criticism of this hypothesis is that evidence for it comes from observational studies. Specifically, observational evidence does not suffice for inferring causality, because the associations might reflect the effects of confounders. Mendelian randomization (MR) - a novel method that tests causality on the basis of genetic data - creates the unprecedented opportunity to probe the causality in the association between BW and mental disorders in observation studies. We used MR and summary statistics from recent large genome-wide association stu

SUBMITTER: Arafat S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6390405 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature