Parental Age and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Pregnancy News
Obie Editorial Team
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are important developmental conditions that can be influenced by a variety of factors, including the age of the parents at the time of pregnancy. A Finnish study highlights these connections, providing essential insights that can guide future parents and support current parents in understanding potential risk factors. This research meticulously examined parental ages in 4,713 cases of Autism Spectrum Disorders. The study included 1,796 cases of Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), 1,785 cases identified as Asperger's syndrome, and 1,132 cases diagnosed as autism. This data was gathered from an extensive Finnish prenatal autism study.
From this study, we learn that children born to mothers under the age of 19 were more frequently diagnosed with PDD. Mothers aged 35 to under 40 also showed a higher occurrence of PDD in their offspring. Asperger's syndrome was similarly linked to this parental age group. Furthermore, autism was predominantly found in children whose mothers were between 35 and 49 at the time of pregnancy.
Conclusion: Understanding these findings empowers us to consider the influence of parental age on ASD. While multiple factors contribute to the development of ASD, this research underscores the importance of parental age as one aspect. This knowledge can aid parents and healthcare providers in making informed decisions about family planning and parental health, while also supporting early detection and intervention strategies.
Source: Lampi KM, Hinkka-Yli-Salomäki S, Lehti V, Helenius H, Gissler M, Brown AS, Sourander A. Parental Age and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in a Finnish National Birth Cohort. J Autism Dev Disord. 2013 Mar 12.
From this study, we learn that children born to mothers under the age of 19 were more frequently diagnosed with PDD. Mothers aged 35 to under 40 also showed a higher occurrence of PDD in their offspring. Asperger's syndrome was similarly linked to this parental age group. Furthermore, autism was predominantly found in children whose mothers were between 35 and 49 at the time of pregnancy.
Conclusion: Understanding these findings empowers us to consider the influence of parental age on ASD. While multiple factors contribute to the development of ASD, this research underscores the importance of parental age as one aspect. This knowledge can aid parents and healthcare providers in making informed decisions about family planning and parental health, while also supporting early detection and intervention strategies.
Source: Lampi KM, Hinkka-Yli-Salomäki S, Lehti V, Helenius H, Gissler M, Brown AS, Sourander A. Parental Age and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in a Finnish National Birth Cohort. J Autism Dev Disord. 2013 Mar 12.
