Higher maternal age may predict kids' autism risk

Washington, Apr 26 (ANI): Researchers have shed light on the possible links between maternal age and autism

While much research has been done to identify potential genetic causes of autism, the new study led by Sven Sandin, of the Karolinska Institutet, Sweden and King's College London, suggests that non-heritable and environmental factors may also play a role in children's risk for autism.

The researchers compared the risk of autism in different groups of material age (under 20, 24-29, 30-34, and 35+).

They found that children of mothers older than 35 years had 30 percent increased risk for autism. Children of mothers under 20 had the lowest risk of developing autism.

The association between advancing maternal age and risk for autism was stronger for male offspring and children diagnosed in more recent years.

The analysis included 25,687 cases of autism spectrum disorder and over 8.6 million control subjects, drawn from the 16 epidemiological papers that fit inclusion criteria for the study as defined by the investigators.

The researchers identified and discussed several potential underlying causes of the association between maternal age and risk for autism such as increased occurrence of gene alteration during the aging process and the effects of exposure to environmental toxins over time.

"The study makes us confident there is an increased risk for autism associated with older maternal age, even though we do not know what the mechanism is. It has been observed in high quality studies from different countries, including the US," Sandin said.

"All studies controlled for paternal age which is an independent risk factor for autism. This finding adds to the understanding that older age of the parents could have consequences to the health of their children," Sandin added.

The study has been published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. (ANI)