The age of parenting has been increasing in the Western world in the past two decades, in parallel with the increase in rates of autism.Dr Reichenberg

Explains


Research project up for THES award28 September 2007, PR 145/07Dr Avi Reichenberg, Institute of Psychiatry, has been shortlisted for the Research Project of the Year Award in the prestigious Times Higher Awards for his work on paternal age and autism. His was the first project to examine the relationship between older father's age and risk of autism in children.‘I am delighted to be shortlisted for a Times Higher Award. It acknowledges the importance of my research in helping us to better understand the origins of autism and related disorders,' comments Dr Reichenberg. He also recently received the College's inaugural King's Award for Research Project of the Year 2007.From 1999 to 2004, the number of new fathers aged 40 or over rose by a third, which led the Times Higher to note ‘This is why research on autism by a team led by Abraham Reichenberg has important benefits in public health as well as scientific advancement.'Autism is a severe disorder of social and language development, and repetitive patterns of behaviour. The incidence of autism has increased dramatically over the past decade, and it is now estimated that the disorder will affect one in every 150 newborn children. Despite extensive efforts, the causes of autism, and the reasons for the recent increase in its incidence, remain unknown.The age of parenting has been increasing in the Western world in the past two decades, in parallel with the increase in rates of autism.Dr Reichenberg explains: ‘The associations between advancing maternal age and birth defects such as Down's syndrome have long been recognised, but paternal age has been largely ignored. Recent research has shown that the offspring of older fathers are at increased risk of neurological and psychiatric disorders, and this inspired me to test for a similar effect in autism.'Collaborating with Israeli and American researchers, the team found that children born to fathers aged 40 or older were almost six times more likely to have autism and related disorders than those born to fathers under 30. Interestingly, the age of the mother did not affect the risk of autism.The project was conducted using unique Israeli population registers, and it has since been replicated by three other research groups. The finding is important because it may offer an insight into the genetic causes of autism.

The Fathers of Autistics Children in Non-Familial Cases Are Often Older or the Mother's Had Olders Father's

Many of the older parents of autistic children are very sensitive about the paternal age issue and do not want to face it. One mother of an autistic child who is a very well known blogger states: "Autism is Not a Mental Prison" How would she know?

Ask the autistic children or teenagers and adults and they may not be so reticent about making the connection. There is a warning to be given to couples to have their babies in their 20s and very early 30s, but no one is warning them.

Autism Can Be Prevented In Some Cases By Fathering All Babies by 33 and Knowing the Other Risk Factors, So Can Alzheimer's Disease and Diabetes

Read about paternal age and genetic disorders and breakthrough the brainwashing about the lack of the male biological clock!

"I am aware of the paternal age effect in many disorders and in the case of autism..."

Professor Angus Clarke
Principal Investigator and Professor in Clinical Genetics




Angus Clarke was born in 1954. He studied Medical and Natural Sciences in Cambridge, taking his Part II in Genetics, and then qualified in Medicine from Oxford University in 1979. After registration, he worked in general medicine and then paediatrics. As a research registrar in the Department of Medical Genetics in Cardiff, he studied the clinical and molecular genetic aspects of ectodermal dysplasia. Subsequently, he worked in clinical genetics and paediatric neurology in Newcastle upon Tyne, developing an interest in Rett syndrome and neuromuscular disorders.

He returned to Cardiff in 1989 as Senior Lecturer in Clinical Genetics. He is now Professor in Clinical Genetics. As well as teaching he also works as a clinician. With his colleague, Peter Harper, he wrote the book, Genetics, Society and Clinical Practice. He directs the Cardiff MSc course in Genetic Counselling.

Research interests:
social and ethical issues raised by advances in human genetics
the genetic counselling process




"I am aware of the paternal age effect in many disorders - and clearly in the case of autism, as with this one family. I am not aware of it in relation to autism in general - but there are cerainly a number of grounds for discouraging the deferral of child bearing to older ages (for men and women) including gene mutations, chromosome anomalies and reduced fertility. Education about the disbenefits of deferring child bearing is important but it is unclear how to achieve this as education is probably a weak force when it is asked to effect major change in a powerful social force.

Don't think that the problems of later child bearing are unrecognised - but if you have useful ways of addressing this then of course do share these"

Best wishes,

Angus Clarke