Posted on 09/05/2006 7:13:51 AM PDT by ZGuy
Children with older fathers have a significantly increased risk of having autism, a study has concluded. The UK and US researchers examined data on 132,271 children and said those born to men over 40 were six times more at risk than those born to men under 30.
They said the study in Archives of General Psychiatry was further proof men also had "biological clocks".
One UK expert said the study could be important in understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying autism.
Autism and related conditions, known as autism spectrum disorders, have become increasingly common, affecting 50 in every 10,000 children as compared with five in 10,000 two decades ago.
Increased awareness and changes in the way the disorders are diagnosed are thought to play a major role in the increase, but the researchers say it may also be linked to other changing factors.
Older parental age has previously been linked to abnormalities in the brain development of children.
Genetic fault
The researchers, from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, and the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London, looked at data on 132,271 children born in Israel during the 1980s.
All men, and three-quarters of women born in these years were assessed by the draft board at age 17, during which time any disorders were recorded.
The board also took information on the ages of their father and mother, and took into account factors such as year of birth and socioeconomic status.
Among those whose fathers were between 15 and 29 when they were born, the rate of autism was six in every 10,000, rising to nine in every 10,000 when fathers were aged 30 to 39 (1.6 times higher).
In the group whose fathers were aged 40 to 49, the rate rose to 32 in 10,000 (5.75 times higher).
The rate appeared to be even higher when fathers were aged over 50, but the researchers said the sample size was very small.
The mother's age did not appear to influence the chances a child would have autism.
The researchers suggest there may be a genetic fault which is more common with age.
This might be spontaneous mutations in sperm-producing cells or alterations in genetic "imprinting," which affects gene expression.
'Convincing evidence'
The team, led by Dr Avi Reichenberg from the IoP, said: "It is important to keep in mind that age at paternity is influenced by the socio-cultural environment and varies across societies and over time.
"In a given population, a change in the socio-cultural environment could produce a change in paternal age at birth.
"In theory, it could thereby lead to a change in the incidence of genetic causes of autism."
He added: "Although further work is necessary to confirm this interpretation, we believe that our study provides the first convincing evidence that advanced paternal age is a risk factor for autism spectrum disorder."
Professor Simon Baron Cohen, of the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge, said: "The finding of a significant association with advancing paternal age is one that should be straightforward to test in other samples, to see if this result from a purely Israeli sample generalises to other populations.
"If confirmed, it could have important implications for the genetic mechanisms underlying autism."
Ping
old fathers or old sperm?
Oh crap. My father's older now than at any other time in my life. I hope I'm not susceptible.
My Dad was 50, no problems here. Definitely no problems.
Owl_Eagle
If what I just wrote made you sad or angry,
it was probably just a joke.
Good term to learn about. 'splains those non-mutation "mutations". Probably the source of male homosexuality as well.
LOL
Do you buy your underwear at K-Mart? And ah, what time does Judge Wapner come on?
I'm on the spectrum myself and my father was my age (25) when I was concieved.
This is an attempt by the feminazi driven media in Briton to try to "equal the playing field between men and women.
_____________
So you are suggesting that the UK and US researchers totally fudged their findings so the "feminazi driven media in Briton" would have something to crow about?
Too funny.
Are you absolutely definite about that. /sarcasm
I have an opinion and it is not daddy's wigglers but from Mom's.
Men produce sperm but woman are born with a lifetime of eggs.
Also women may have medical conditions that can pass through the placenta.
I would put my money on some chromosome/genetic flaw in the womans older eggs.
And my uncle fathered children in his '60's. I'm not sure, though, what the point of anecdotal evidence plays in this discussion.
Show some scientific (not anecdotal) evidence that conclusions were agenda driven, and you'll be everyone's hero.
His youngest child was born when Charlie was 73 years old.
No known record of autism in the children.
Leni
My brother was 35 when his son was born with autism.
Parents of autistic children are usually of higher intelligence. I'm watching Dr. Manny Alvarez on FOX right now and am surprised to hear that his son is autistic. My brother was a certified genius, as is his wife. My Dad's best friend was beyond genius and his wife, a world-renowned artist, they had an autistic son. I think autism is the exact opposite of mental retardation.
Damned lies and statistics...
What happened to men between 30 and 40, probably the age range of increasingly more and more "normal" (married) fathers?
I would give this report more credence if the stats were tabulated continuously by age, including the youngest, as well as the oldest...
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