A growing body of evidence suggests that a father's age (paternal age) may play a role in autism risk.

Older fathers and autism risk: Is there a connection?

Is it true that children born to older fathers are at increased risk of autism?
- Kristin / Utah
Mayo Clinic pediatrician Jay Hoecker, M.D., and colleagues answer select questions from readers.
Answer
A growing body of evidence suggests that a father's age (paternal age) may play a role in autism risk.

A large study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry in 2006 examined the relationship between advancing paternal age and autism risk. Researchers reported that children born to men 40 years or older were almost six times more likely to have autism spectrum disorder than were children born to men younger than 30 years.

The reason for this increased risk of autism isn't clear. One theory is that as men age, their genetic material loses some ability to repair itself. As a result, spontaneous mutations in genes may be passed on rather than corrected — potentially leading to an increased risk of brain abnormalities in their children. Researchers have identified a number of gene mutations associated with autism.

On a related note, advancing maternal age appears to have little effect on autism risk.

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Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Dr. Jay Hoecker, an emeritus consultant in the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, brings valuable expertise to MayoClinic.com in general and primary care pediatrics. He has a particular interest in infectious diseases of children.
Dr. Hoecker, a Fort Worth, Texas, native, is certified as a pediatrician by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was trained at Washington University's St. Louis Children's Hospital, and in infectious diseases at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1989.
"The World Wide Web is revolutionizing the availability and distribution of information, including health information about children and families," Dr. Hoecker says. "The evolution of the Web has included greater safety, privacy and accuracy over time, making the quality and access to children's health information immediate, practical and useful. I am happy to be a part of this service to patients from a trusted name in medicine, to use and foster all the good the Web has to offer children and their families."