Older fathers may be linked to child autism
Older fathers may be linked to child autism
The Empowered Patient is a regular feature from CNN Senior Medical News Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen that helps put you in the driver's seat when it comes to health care.
Women aren’t the only ones whose biological clocks are ticking: A new study on the genetics of autism finds the sperm of older men may be to blame for many cases of the disorder.
The study, done by researchers in Iceland, indicates that as many as 20-30% of cases of autism and schizophrenia may be linked to the father’s advanced age. Unlike findings on disorders such as Down Syndrome, this study found that the age of the mother made no difference.
“This is really a paradigm shift,” said Dr. Jamie Grifo, program director of the New York University Fertility Center.
Traditionally, women have borne the brunt of concerns about having a healthy child as they age, while many men have assumed their sperm were no different at 80 than at 20.
“I had my babies at 38 and 39 and I was terrified,” said anchor Ashleigh Banfield onCNN Newsroom. “Honey, you’re in the conversation now. It’s not just me.”
Video: Older fathers may be linked to autism
While older men have an increased risk of fathering a child with autism, the risk is still low – 2% at the most for dads over 40, according to the new study.
The authors looked at random mutations in genes that are linked to autism and schizophrenia. Looking at 78 families, the researchers found that on average, a child born to a 20-year-old father had 25 random mutations that could be traced to the father’s genes. Children born to 40-year-old fathers had 65 mutations.
As men age, "Sperm will have acquired more mutations than when they were younger, which will increase the chance of children they father inheriting a disease-producing mutation,” said Richard Sharpe, who does research on male reproductive health at the MRC Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Edinburgh.
One scientist said men might want to take a tip from some young women who freeze their eggs to use when they’re older.
“Collecting the sperm of young adult men and cold-storing for later use could be a wise individual decision,” wrote Alexey Kondrashov, a professor who studies evolution at the University of Michigan’s Life Sciences Institute.
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/23/older-fathers-may-be-linked-to-child-autism/?hpt=he_c2
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Aaaahahahahaha
Quoting quickbooksworm:
I'm going to use this as an excuse to date younger men lol.
Proud Navy Wife since 1/10/06; Mother to McKenna since 12/11/08, McKaela since 5/27/10 & Maisie since 8/15/11.
Due in September? Join us in September 2011 Babies!
I think it is more like saying the risk of downs increases with the mother's age, well, yes, but I know quite a few women who had babies after 40 and their LO's have no trace of Downs. So I think it is just saying there is a link somewhere that increases the chance but doesn't necessarily meant that it is IT. You know?
Quoting sarah824:Hmmm... DH turned 40 right after DS was born and we had one more after that. No signs of autism here. :-)
Proud Navy Wife since 1/10/06; Mother to McKenna since 12/11/08, McKaela since 5/27/10 & Maisie since 8/15/11.
Due in September? Join us in September 2011 Babies!
Yeah, I know... I was mostly being silly! :-)
I am glad I didn't know about this possible link before we had kids, because autism is one of those that has always concerned me anyhow. Had I known, it may have inadvertently slowed down my urge to have kids.
Quoting Harris06:
I think it is more like saying the risk of downs increases with the mother's age, well, yes, but I know quite a few women who had babies after 40 and their LO's have no trace of Downs. So I think it is just saying there is a link somewhere that increases the chance but doesn't necessarily meant that it is IT. You know?
Quoting sarah824:
Hmmm... DH turned 40 right after DS was born and we had one more after that. No signs of autism here. :-)
Sometimes I think that all of these "studies", while good and I'm glad they are trying to pinpoint links and such, I think that sometimes they do more harm than good. You know? Maybe in the way that they are presented? I don't know but it just seems like you hear more and more "if you are over a certain age/weight/height/BMI than your children will be born with some illness or deformity." Which makes people go "Um...let me think about this again..."
And I knew you were, it made me giggle, honestly, I was just trying to open up a conversation. :)
Quoting sarah824:Yeah, I know... I was mostly being silly! :-)
I am glad I didn't know about this possible link before we had kids, because autism is one of those that has always concerned me anyhow. Had I known, it may have inadvertently slowed down my urge to have kids.
Quoting Harris06:
I think it is more like saying the risk of downs increases with the mother's age, well, yes, but I know quite a few women who had babies after 40 and their LO's have no trace of Downs. So I think it is just saying there is a link somewhere that increases the chance but doesn't necessarily meant that it is IT. You know?
Quoting sarah824:
Hmmm... DH turned 40 right after DS was born and we had one more after that. No signs of autism here. :-)
Proud Navy Wife since 1/10/06; Mother to McKenna since 12/11/08, McKaela since 5/27/10 & Maisie since 8/15/11.
Due in September? Join us in September 2011 Babies!
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- Harris06
on Aug. 24, 2012 at 4:47 PM