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Risk of Genetic Mutations Tied to Autism May Increase With Each Year of Father's Age

By Jennifer Warner WebMD Health News

Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Aug. 22, 2012 -- The father's age may matter more than the mother's when it comes to the risk of some disorders like autism in children.

A new study shows the number of "de novo" or new genetic mutations passed to children increases with every year of the father's age at the time of conception. And fathers pass along a greater number of these to their children than do mothers.

Researchers found the number of de novo mutations in children increases by two for every year of the father's age. The whole amount doubles every 16.5 years.

That means a 36-year-old man passes along twice as many mutations in his sperm to his children, compared to a 20-year-old.

Previous studies have already linked these mutations to autism and schizophrenia and a variety of other developmental disorders. This study helps to quantify the potential risk.

Researchers say the findings have important implications for family planning as well as the recent rise of developmental disorders, especially autism.

See the article here:
Father's Age Linked to Autism