Large age gap between parents increases autism risk in kids

Children born to teenage mothers and whose parents have a large gap between their ages are at an increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorder, according to a study by New York researchers.

The researchers examined the children for autism diagnosis who were born between 1985 and 2004 and also followed up on their development until 2009. They analysed that autism rates were 66 percent higher among children born to fathers over 50 years of age than among those born to fathers in their 20s. Autism rates were 28 percent higher when fathers were in their 40s versus 20s.

When compared to the children who born to mothers in their 20s, the autism rates were 15 percent higher in children born to mothers in their 40s. Autism rates were 18 percent higher among children born to teenage mothers than among those born to mothers in their 20s.

The autism rates rose still higher when both parents were older, in line with what one would expect if each parent's age contributed to risk.

With the widening gap between the parents, the autism rates were also increased. "These results suggest that multiple mechanisms are contributing to the association between parental age and ASD risk," the authors concluded. The study was published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

By Lizitha