Older Paternal Age May Increase Autism Risk

Older Paternal Age May Increase Autism Risk
Article Posted: March 19, 2009





The older men are, the more likely they may be to father children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, according to a new multicenter analysis. Investigators reanalyzed data on more than 33,000 children in the U.S. Collaborative Perinatal Project (CPP), which included standard neuropsychological testing on children at eight months, four years and seven years of age. The children were analyzed some time ago – from 1958 to 1965 – at 12 university-affiliated hospital clinics.


Using two statistical models, investigators compared children born to 20-year-old fathers to those born to fathers who were 50. They concluded that the children of older fathers showed “subtle impairments on tests of neurocognitive ability.” Interestingly, the opposite was true for the children of older women, who were found to have “superior performance” on neuropsychological testing measures.


What are the possible causes of the link between autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders and older paternal age? Genomics studies indicate that the sperm of older fathers are more susceptible to mutations, which interfere with gene replication. This can adversely affect the brain development of the fetus, leading to diseases such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, dyslexia and schizophrenia. There are other studies linking older fathers to autism spectrum disorders. The researchers note that current “secular trends” in delaying fatherhood may be a contributing factor to an increase in autism rates.


Source: Saha S, Barnett AG, Foldi C, et al. Advanced paternal age is associated with impaired neurocognitive outcomes during infancy and childhood. PLoS Med 2009 Mar 10;6(3):e40.