April 2004

Birth Month For the Best Adult Health

People who are born in December are quite possibly healthier than the rest of us--and a lot healthier than those born in March. Medical experts from a variety of prestigious research institutions, including Stanford University, Southwest Missouri State University, and Stanley Medical Research Institute in Bethesda, Md., have independently found a link between the month in which you were born and a predisposition to certain illnesses, reports ABC News. If there is any explanation between birth month and disease it is most likely environmental, although no study has been able to prove a definitive cause-and-effect relationship. For example, fetal exposure to a virus in the second trimester of pregnancy when neurodevelopment begins may be linked to schizophrenia.

What diseases and disorders are most common for each birth month? ABC News compiled this list: JANUARY Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, respiratory syncytial virus FEBRUARY Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, epilepsy MARCH Alzheimer's, schizophrenia, autism, narcolepsy, Hodgkin's disease, multiple sclerosis, bipolar disorder, epilepsy APRIL Leukemia, dyslexia, learning disabilities, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, ALS MAY Dyslexia, learning disabilities, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson's disease JUNE Anorexia, diabetes, dyslexia, learning disabilities, multiple sclerosis, ALS, Parkinson's disease, and celiac disease JULY Diabetes, celiac disease, dyslexia, learning disabilities AUGUST Diabetes, celiac disease, autism, Crohn's disease SEPTEMBER ADHD, asthma OCTOBER Asthma, eczema NOVEMBER Asthma, eczema, respiratory syncytial virus DECEMBER Respiratory syncytial virus

The medical experts agree that while there appears to be a pattern between birth month and disease, none of this is a prediction for what will happen to specific individuals. In addition, more research is needed to figure out how a person's birth month actually influences his or her health.