Children born to mothers who suffer a bout of influenza during pregnancy may be at an increased risk of bipolar disorder, says a new study from researchers at Columbia University Medical Center.
Lead researcher Prof Alan Brown and his team reviewed health records of babies born during the 1960s. The found that adults whose mothers had contracted a case of the flu during pregnancy were as much as four times more likely to develop bipolar disorder later in life.
Currently, about one in 100 people suffer from bipolar disorder, and Brown says that flu should not yet be a high priority concern during pregnancy.
"I wouldn't say high," Brown told the BBC. "The chances are still quite small. I don't think it should raise alarms for mothers."
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.