Older parents – grave consequences

Playing with the biological clock sometimes lead to very serious consequences. Especially when it comes to first-born son, conceived on the verge of reproductive age.

According to world statistics, in recent times people try to postpone the birth of the child to “later”. And the number of second marriages is growing. It is not uncommon when a man becomes a father not only in the 35 years, but in 50, 60 and even 70. According to UN figures, men and women in developed countries generally try to live as long as possible outside of marriage. The number of men who have not married by 30 years, over 20 years increased by almost 15%.

In 2004, the average age of fathers was 35 years old, and in 2007 he went to 40 years. Scientists estimate that almost one in ten newborn dad over 50 years.

As they say psychologists from the University of Tel Aviv (Tel Aviv University), a great age of the parents often causes their offspring to different diseases. For example, fathers who crossed the 30-year milestone of 11% more likely to give birth to children who become ill manic-depressive psychosis (MDP). And if the father at the time of conception the child was aged 55 years and older, the risk of development of the TIR increased by 37%. In the same age was five times higher risk to give birth to a child with Down syndrome.

The risk of developing schizophrenia is much higher among those who later became a child. According to the Swedes, and every subsequent 10 years of age his father, who had turned 50 years old, added his sick child to the risk of schizophrenia by 30%. But Israeli researchers found that older fathers, sons are often born with low IQ and even autism. For example, children 45-55-year-old fathers of autistic six times more likely than those with the pope is not older than 30 years.

Now, psychologists from Tel Aviv, decided to see how the sons of older parents formed social skills. Researchers turned to the military, which are always carefully anketiruyut their recruits and reservists. For the experiment took away more than 450 000 questionnaires to young people aged between 16 and 17 years.

Adolescents responded to questions that determine their social activity: the friends and girlfriends, free time and skills. In parallel, the scientists tested the rate of IQ, socio-economic status and family history subjects.

It was found that problems with social adjustment to grow 50% in those whose fathers more than 45 years. And the age of 35-45 years had no effect on the mental health of sons.

However, psychologists warn that their results can not be considered absolutely reliable. First, their data is valid only for boys, to which elderly fathers completely different requirements. Secondly, men with poor social skills, get married rather late. I may well send their sons especially.

By the way, the Swedish researchers, who found a correlation between high paternal age and the development of the TIR, believe that the problem of deterioration of sperm quality in men with age and increase the likelihood of genetic mutations.

Nevertheless, Israeli researchers suggest that their results will be useful for clinical practice. It can advance to start working with those who are planning to have children at such a mature age.

These studies published in the journal Schizophrenia Bulletin.

Source: infox.ru