Children born to older fathers face a greater chance of developing bipolar disorder, according to one of the largest studies linking mental illness with advanced paternal age.

Previous research has connected schizophrenia and autism with older dads, and a Danish study published last year added bipolar disorder to the list. The new study led by researchers at Sweden's Karolinska Institute strengthens the evidence.

This morning, on my way to Peet's for a decaf iced mocha, I saw two young women taking pictures of what at first glance might look like two bundles of clothes on the sidewalk. Since I frequent that particular Peet's, and because I've worked in Berkeley, California, for over a year, I knew that the bundles were two people sleeping on the sidewalk. I'm not sure why that spot is a favorite, but I'm sure I'd know if I had the misfortune to be homeless in Berkeley.

I would like to think that the two young women were taking pictures because they were doing a photographic expose of homelessness, but I was clued into the fact that it wasn't likely by their giggling as they scooted away. It was a little strange to see the homeless being treated as a kind of tourist attraction, but maybe they were visiting from somewhere that doesn't have people sleeping on its streets.

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The findings are not expected to lead to a genetic test for the risk of the condition but could help unravel the mystery of how it arises and lead to better treatments, they reported in the journal Nature Genetics.

Multiple combat deployments to Iraq are increasing serious mental health problems among soldiers, triggering drug and alcohol abuse and contributing to record suicide levels, suggest reports out Thursday at the American Psychological Association meeting in Boston.

In a typical unit headed to Iraq, 60 percent are on their second, third or fourth deployment, lasting about a year each, says U.S. Army Col. Carl Castro, who directs a medical research program at Fort Detrick, Md.