Birth Order May Affect Disease Risk

A study published in Nature Health, analyzing the health records of over 10 million people, found that birth order may be associated with 150 different diseases. The study analyzed health records from families with only two children to assess the relationship between birth order and disease risk. It was found that firstborn and second-born children had different levels of risk for certain diseases. Firstborn children were found to be at higher risk for autism, ADHD, Tourette syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), allergies, asthma, and acne. Second-born children, on the other hand, were found to be more prone to substance abuse, digestive system disorders, and certain infectious diseases.