Human spermatozoaWIKIMEDIA, FORSKERUNVWhile most people are familiar with the complications that can occur in children of older mothers, evidence is increasing for the impact of the father’s age on the health of the child. A team of researchers from Indiana University and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden has shown that children of older fathers may have increased risk of some psychiatric disorders. Their work was published in JAMA Psychiatry this week (February 26).
“Paternal age may have a stronger effect than we previously realized,” coauthor Brian D’Onofrio of Indiana University told NPR.
The investigators used data available for more than 2.5 million individuals born between 1973 and 2001 in Sweden from more than 1.4 million distinct fathers. They found that, compared to fathers from 20 to 24 years old, children born to fathers 45 and older had a higher risk of autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, suicide attempts, and psychosis. The researchers also found that children born by fathers of advanced age were more likely to have failed a grade and have lower overall educational achievement.
“The older age of dads is associated with not just one disorder or another, but with a large ...
