Yes, Autism's Can Be Attributed, In Part to Older Paternal Age

Older dads have higher risk of children with autism?
Autism causes are in the news these days, and one group of researchers suggested a link between older dads, and possibly their aging sperm, and the neurological disorder, The Scotsman reported.

Mothers aged 35 and over were cited as having a 30 percent higher risk of having an autistic child than mothers in their 20s, while for fathers in their 40s and over the risk was estimated to be even greater, around 40 percent higher when compared with fathers aged under 30. -- Scotsman, Oct. 26, 2008 (I highlighted dad data.)

Regular Working Dad readers know I've been tracking developments on the impact of older sperm. There is already research about potential links between older fathers, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia in children.

And this week, we also saw a Cornell University study suggesting a possible connection between autism and rain.

With no definitive cause and a mind-boggling and ever-growing list of possibilities, no wonder parents for getting stressed and confused

The study on older parents and autism was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.


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de.licio.usDiggFacebookNewsvineRedditStumbleUponGoogle BookmarksYahoo MyWebTwitterPosted by Paul Nyhan at November 5, 2008 1:50 p.m.
Categories: Autism, Health news and research, News
Comments
#211861Posted by anniepema at 11/5/08 4:39 p.m.

Dear Paul,

Congratulations on your new baby! I have a blog on research on the possible consequences of older paternal age: http://ageofthefatherandhealthoffuture.blogspot.com/

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#211943Posted by unregistered user at 11/5/08 6:28 p.m.

We have a Thursday p.m. live chat with parents who have Asperger children over at www.dadscenter.org beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET. We welcome parents with Aspie kids to help deal with these wonderfully special children.

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#212008Posted by unregistered user at 11/5/08 8:49 p.m.

I am a special ed teacher, and I had been wondering about this myself, based on the kids/parents I have seen. Also, I became a mom at 29, thinking that I was not a "young" mom, but 90% of the moms I met were 5-10 years older than me, and several of them have kids on the spectrum.

Interesting.

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#212023Posted by Paul Nyhan at 11/5/08 9:21 p.m.

Thanks Anniepema, man your blog has lots of information about sperm and childbirth. I'll have to bookmark it for future stories.