Parents' age may be factor in child's autism risk

Parents' ages may play a role in a child's risk of developing autism, a new study suggests. Past research has already reported a higher risk of autism among children of older parents, as was found in this new paper. But this study also suggests that children of teen parents and of parents with a big age difference have higher odds of developing an autism spectrum disorder.
"Your age and the age of your partner matters, but older age, younger age or a large gap in age is not deterministic," said study author Sven Sandin, a statistician in the department of medical epidemiology and biostatistics at Karolinska Institute in Sweden.
"Although risk for autism may increase when parents are older or have a gap in ages, most of the children born to such couples will [not develop autism]," he said.
Both Sandin and an independent autism expert noted that although the study found an association between parents' ages and autism risk, it doesn't prove a cause-and-effect relationship. They also both said that the overall risk of autism was low, regardless of parents' ages. These findings were reported online June 9 in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
Autism spectrum disorders include a range of developmental brain conditions characterized by communication and social difficulties and repetitive behaviors, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimates that one in 68 children has an autism spectrum disorder.
The study authors compared almost 31,000 children with autism to nearly 6 million without autism in five countries. Those countries included Australia, Denmark, Israel, Norway and Sweden.
Similar to the findings of past research, this study found the risk of having a child with autism was 66 percent greater in fathers over 50 years old compared to fathers in their 20s. The risk for children of fathers in their 40s was 28 percent higher than for children of fathers in their 20s.
    Medicienet.com

 

Parents age may be factor in childs autism risk

Parents ages may play a role in a childs risk of developing autism, a new study suggests. Past research has already reported a higher risk of autism among children of older parents, as was found in this new paper. But this study also suggests that children of teen parents and of parents with a big age difference have higher odds of developing an autism spectrum disorder. Your age and the age of your partner matters, but older age, younger age or a large gap in age is not deterministic, said study author Sven Sandin, a statistician in the department of medical epidemiology and biostatistics at Karolinska Institute in Sweden. Although risk for autism may increase when parents are older or have a gap in ages, most of the children born to such couples will [not develop autism], he said. Both Sandin and an independent autism expert noted that although the study found an association between parents ages and autism risk, it doesnt prove a cause-and-effect relationship. They also both said that the overall risk of autism was low, regardless of parents ages. These findings were reported online June 9 in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. Autism spectrum disorders include a range of developmental brain conditions characterized by communication and social difficulties and repetitive behaviors, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC estimates that one in 68 children has an autism spectrum disorder. The study authors compared almost 31,000 children with autism to nearly 6 million without autism in five countries. Those countries included Australia, Denmark, Israel, Norway and Sweden. Similar to the findings of past research, this study found the risk of having a child with autism was 66 percent greater in fathers over 50 years old compared to fathers in their 20s. The risk for children of fathers in their 40s was 28 percent higher than for children of fathers in their 20s. Medicienet.com