Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEvidence of a Link Between Parental Age and AutismHow Could Parental Age Be Linked to Autism?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Evidence of a Link Between Parental Age and Autism
How Could Parental Age Be Linked to Autism?
Older parents, especially older males, are more likely than other parents to have autistic children. This finding, which has been replicated in several large studies, establishes an association between age and autism.
There is no clear indication, however, that parental age actually causes autism. Research is ongoing as to why and how parental age impactsthe risk of autism.
This article will discuss the evidence as to whether parental age is a risk factor for autism.
Reichenberg’s study had a big impact when it came out, and it launched many additional studies to confirm its findings. In addition, it sparked studies to further explore whether the female parent’s age is actually irrelevant to the diagnosis ofautism spectrum disorder(ASD) in children.
This article explores research that, over more than a decade in multiple studies, has confirmed some of Reichenberg’s findings while disputing others.
Importance of Father’s Age
A major study conducted in Sweden looked at 2.6 million children born between 1973 and 2001.After controlling for many other possible causes, the researchers found that males older than 45 at the time of the child’s birth are 3.45 times more likely to have autistic children.
The study found older males are also far more likely to have children with:
Additional studies have, in general, supported Reichenberg’s original findings that older males are more likely than younger men to have autistic children. But these findings don’t tell the whole story because additional studies have linked autism in children with advanced age in their parents assigned female, as well.
Importance of Mother’s Age
Since the early 2000s, several studies have investigated how a female parent’s age factors into the chance of having autistic children. While Reichenberg specifically found no connection, other studies have found a strong connection.
One study concluded that there is a strong independent connection between higher maternal age and autism.According to this study, having a younger father doesn’t protect against autism when the mother is over 35.
Paternal and Maternal Age Both Implicated
While early studies identified impact due to the father’s age, most recent studies have found a connection between advanced age in both parents and the likelihood of having autistic children, including:
There is no clear explanation for the connection between parental age and autism. There are, however, a number of theories about the connection. A few include:
How to Parent as an Autistic Person
Summary
Studies have shown an association between the parents' ages and the risk of autism in their child. Various studies have looked into whether maternal age or paternal age plays a role, with some differences in the conclusions. In general, the older a parent is at the time of the child’s birth, the greater the risk of autism in the child.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Reichenberg A, Gross R, Weiser M, Bresnahan M, Silverman J, Harlap S, Rabinowitz J, Shulman C, Malaspina D, Lubin G, Knobler HY, Davidson M, Susser E.Advancing paternal age and autism.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006 Sep;63(9):1026-32. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.63.9.1026Hultman CM, Sandin S, Levine SZ, Lichtenstein P, Reichenberg A.Advancing paternal age and risk of autism: new evidence from a population-based study and a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies.Mol Psychiatry. 2011 Dec;16(12):1203-12. doi:10.1038/mp.2010.121Sandin S, Hultman CM, Kolevzon A, Gross R, MacCabe JH, Reichenberg A.Advancing maternal age is associated with increasing risk for autism: a review and meta-analysis.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012 May;51(5):477-486.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2012.02.018Grether JK, Anderson MC, Croen LA, Smith D, Windham GC.Risk of autism and increasing maternal and paternal age in a large North American population.Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Nov 1;170(9):1118-26. doi:10.1093/aje/kwp247 Note to copy editor: Approving using this study because of its size, even though from 2009.Wu S, Wu F, Ding Y, Hou J, Bi J, Zhang Z.Advanced parental age and autism risk in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2017 Jan;135(1):29-41. doi:10.1111/acps.12666King MD, Fountain C, Dakhlallah D, Bearman PS.Estimated autism risk and older reproductive age.Am J Public Health. 2009;99(9):1673-1679. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.149021 Note to copy editor: As with the other, even though this is from 2009, it is a large study and I approve including it.Deweerdt S.The link between parental age and autism, explained.Additional ReadingGrether JK, Anderson MC, Croen LA, Smith D, Windham GC. Risk of autism and increasing maternal and paternal age in a large north American population. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Nov 1;170(9):1118-26. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwp247. Epub 2009 Sep 25. PMID: 19783586.Hultman CM, Sandin S, Levine SZ, Lichtenstein P, Reichenberg A. Advancing paternal age and risk of autism: new evidence from a population-based study and a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Mol Psychiatry. 2011 Dec;16(12):1203-12. doi: 10.1038/mp.2010.121. Epub 2010 Nov 30. PMID: 21116277.King MD, Fountain C, Dakhlallah D, Bearman PS. Estimated autism risk and older reproductive age.Am J Public Health. 2009;99(9):1673-1679. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.149021Reichenberg, Abraham & Gross, Raz & Weiser, Mark & Bresnahan, Michaeline & Silverman, Jeremy & Harlap, Susan & Rabinowitz, Jonathan & Shulman, Cory & Malaspina, Dolores & Lubin, Gad & Knobler, Haim & Davidson, Michael & Susser, Ezra. (2006). Advancing Paternal Age and Autism. Archives of general psychiatry. 63. 1026-32. 10.1001/archpsyc.63.9.1026.Sandin, S., Schendel, D., Magnusson, P.et al.Autism risk associated with parental age and with increasing difference in age between the parents.Mol Psychiatry21,693–700 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2015.70Sandin S, Hultman CM, Kolevzon A, Gross R, MacCabe JH, Reichenberg A. Advancing maternal age is associated with increasing risk for autism: a review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012 May;51(5):477-486.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2012.02.018. Epub 2012 Apr 5. Erratum in: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012 Jun;51(6):660. PMID: 22525954.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Reichenberg A, Gross R, Weiser M, Bresnahan M, Silverman J, Harlap S, Rabinowitz J, Shulman C, Malaspina D, Lubin G, Knobler HY, Davidson M, Susser E.Advancing paternal age and autism.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006 Sep;63(9):1026-32. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.63.9.1026Hultman CM, Sandin S, Levine SZ, Lichtenstein P, Reichenberg A.Advancing paternal age and risk of autism: new evidence from a population-based study and a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies.Mol Psychiatry. 2011 Dec;16(12):1203-12. doi:10.1038/mp.2010.121Sandin S, Hultman CM, Kolevzon A, Gross R, MacCabe JH, Reichenberg A.Advancing maternal age is associated with increasing risk for autism: a review and meta-analysis.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012 May;51(5):477-486.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2012.02.018Grether JK, Anderson MC, Croen LA, Smith D, Windham GC.Risk of autism and increasing maternal and paternal age in a large North American population.Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Nov 1;170(9):1118-26. doi:10.1093/aje/kwp247 Note to copy editor: Approving using this study because of its size, even though from 2009.Wu S, Wu F, Ding Y, Hou J, Bi J, Zhang Z.Advanced parental age and autism risk in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2017 Jan;135(1):29-41. doi:10.1111/acps.12666King MD, Fountain C, Dakhlallah D, Bearman PS.Estimated autism risk and older reproductive age.Am J Public Health. 2009;99(9):1673-1679. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.149021 Note to copy editor: As with the other, even though this is from 2009, it is a large study and I approve including it.Deweerdt S.The link between parental age and autism, explained.Additional ReadingGrether JK, Anderson MC, Croen LA, Smith D, Windham GC. Risk of autism and increasing maternal and paternal age in a large north American population. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Nov 1;170(9):1118-26. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwp247. Epub 2009 Sep 25. PMID: 19783586.Hultman CM, Sandin S, Levine SZ, Lichtenstein P, Reichenberg A. Advancing paternal age and risk of autism: new evidence from a population-based study and a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Mol Psychiatry. 2011 Dec;16(12):1203-12. doi: 10.1038/mp.2010.121. Epub 2010 Nov 30. PMID: 21116277.King MD, Fountain C, Dakhlallah D, Bearman PS. Estimated autism risk and older reproductive age.Am J Public Health. 2009;99(9):1673-1679. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.149021Reichenberg, Abraham & Gross, Raz & Weiser, Mark & Bresnahan, Michaeline & Silverman, Jeremy & Harlap, Susan & Rabinowitz, Jonathan & Shulman, Cory & Malaspina, Dolores & Lubin, Gad & Knobler, Haim & Davidson, Michael & Susser, Ezra. (2006). Advancing Paternal Age and Autism. Archives of general psychiatry. 63. 1026-32. 10.1001/archpsyc.63.9.1026.Sandin, S., Schendel, D., Magnusson, P.et al.Autism risk associated with parental age and with increasing difference in age between the parents.Mol Psychiatry21,693–700 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2015.70Sandin S, Hultman CM, Kolevzon A, Gross R, MacCabe JH, Reichenberg A. Advancing maternal age is associated with increasing risk for autism: a review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012 May;51(5):477-486.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2012.02.018. Epub 2012 Apr 5. Erratum in: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012 Jun;51(6):660. PMID: 22525954.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Reichenberg A, Gross R, Weiser M, Bresnahan M, Silverman J, Harlap S, Rabinowitz J, Shulman C, Malaspina D, Lubin G, Knobler HY, Davidson M, Susser E.Advancing paternal age and autism.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006 Sep;63(9):1026-32. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.63.9.1026Hultman CM, Sandin S, Levine SZ, Lichtenstein P, Reichenberg A.Advancing paternal age and risk of autism: new evidence from a population-based study and a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies.Mol Psychiatry. 2011 Dec;16(12):1203-12. doi:10.1038/mp.2010.121Sandin S, Hultman CM, Kolevzon A, Gross R, MacCabe JH, Reichenberg A.Advancing maternal age is associated with increasing risk for autism: a review and meta-analysis.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012 May;51(5):477-486.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2012.02.018Grether JK, Anderson MC, Croen LA, Smith D, Windham GC.Risk of autism and increasing maternal and paternal age in a large North American population.Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Nov 1;170(9):1118-26. doi:10.1093/aje/kwp247 Note to copy editor: Approving using this study because of its size, even though from 2009.Wu S, Wu F, Ding Y, Hou J, Bi J, Zhang Z.Advanced parental age and autism risk in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2017 Jan;135(1):29-41. doi:10.1111/acps.12666King MD, Fountain C, Dakhlallah D, Bearman PS.Estimated autism risk and older reproductive age.Am J Public Health. 2009;99(9):1673-1679. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.149021 Note to copy editor: As with the other, even though this is from 2009, it is a large study and I approve including it.Deweerdt S.The link between parental age and autism, explained.
Reichenberg A, Gross R, Weiser M, Bresnahan M, Silverman J, Harlap S, Rabinowitz J, Shulman C, Malaspina D, Lubin G, Knobler HY, Davidson M, Susser E.Advancing paternal age and autism.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006 Sep;63(9):1026-32. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.63.9.1026
Hultman CM, Sandin S, Levine SZ, Lichtenstein P, Reichenberg A.Advancing paternal age and risk of autism: new evidence from a population-based study and a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies.Mol Psychiatry. 2011 Dec;16(12):1203-12. doi:10.1038/mp.2010.121
Sandin S, Hultman CM, Kolevzon A, Gross R, MacCabe JH, Reichenberg A.Advancing maternal age is associated with increasing risk for autism: a review and meta-analysis.J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012 May;51(5):477-486.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2012.02.018
Grether JK, Anderson MC, Croen LA, Smith D, Windham GC.Risk of autism and increasing maternal and paternal age in a large North American population.Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Nov 1;170(9):1118-26. doi:10.1093/aje/kwp247 Note to copy editor: Approving using this study because of its size, even though from 2009.
Wu S, Wu F, Ding Y, Hou J, Bi J, Zhang Z.Advanced parental age and autism risk in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2017 Jan;135(1):29-41. doi:10.1111/acps.12666
King MD, Fountain C, Dakhlallah D, Bearman PS.Estimated autism risk and older reproductive age.Am J Public Health. 2009;99(9):1673-1679. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.149021 Note to copy editor: As with the other, even though this is from 2009, it is a large study and I approve including it.
Deweerdt S.The link between parental age and autism, explained.
Grether JK, Anderson MC, Croen LA, Smith D, Windham GC. Risk of autism and increasing maternal and paternal age in a large north American population. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Nov 1;170(9):1118-26. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwp247. Epub 2009 Sep 25. PMID: 19783586.Hultman CM, Sandin S, Levine SZ, Lichtenstein P, Reichenberg A. Advancing paternal age and risk of autism: new evidence from a population-based study and a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Mol Psychiatry. 2011 Dec;16(12):1203-12. doi: 10.1038/mp.2010.121. Epub 2010 Nov 30. PMID: 21116277.King MD, Fountain C, Dakhlallah D, Bearman PS. Estimated autism risk and older reproductive age.Am J Public Health. 2009;99(9):1673-1679. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.149021Reichenberg, Abraham & Gross, Raz & Weiser, Mark & Bresnahan, Michaeline & Silverman, Jeremy & Harlap, Susan & Rabinowitz, Jonathan & Shulman, Cory & Malaspina, Dolores & Lubin, Gad & Knobler, Haim & Davidson, Michael & Susser, Ezra. (2006). Advancing Paternal Age and Autism. Archives of general psychiatry. 63. 1026-32. 10.1001/archpsyc.63.9.1026.Sandin, S., Schendel, D., Magnusson, P.et al.Autism risk associated with parental age and with increasing difference in age between the parents.Mol Psychiatry21,693–700 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2015.70Sandin S, Hultman CM, Kolevzon A, Gross R, MacCabe JH, Reichenberg A. Advancing maternal age is associated with increasing risk for autism: a review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012 May;51(5):477-486.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2012.02.018. Epub 2012 Apr 5. Erratum in: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012 Jun;51(6):660. PMID: 22525954.
Grether JK, Anderson MC, Croen LA, Smith D, Windham GC. Risk of autism and increasing maternal and paternal age in a large north American population. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 Nov 1;170(9):1118-26. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwp247. Epub 2009 Sep 25. PMID: 19783586.
Hultman CM, Sandin S, Levine SZ, Lichtenstein P, Reichenberg A. Advancing paternal age and risk of autism: new evidence from a population-based study and a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies. Mol Psychiatry. 2011 Dec;16(12):1203-12. doi: 10.1038/mp.2010.121. Epub 2010 Nov 30. PMID: 21116277.
King MD, Fountain C, Dakhlallah D, Bearman PS. Estimated autism risk and older reproductive age.Am J Public Health. 2009;99(9):1673-1679. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2008.149021
Reichenberg, Abraham & Gross, Raz & Weiser, Mark & Bresnahan, Michaeline & Silverman, Jeremy & Harlap, Susan & Rabinowitz, Jonathan & Shulman, Cory & Malaspina, Dolores & Lubin, Gad & Knobler, Haim & Davidson, Michael & Susser, Ezra. (2006). Advancing Paternal Age and Autism. Archives of general psychiatry. 63. 1026-32. 10.1001/archpsyc.63.9.1026.
Sandin, S., Schendel, D., Magnusson, P.et al.Autism risk associated with parental age and with increasing difference in age between the parents.Mol Psychiatry21,693–700 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2015.70
Sandin S, Hultman CM, Kolevzon A, Gross R, MacCabe JH, Reichenberg A. Advancing maternal age is associated with increasing risk for autism: a review and meta-analysis. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012 May;51(5):477-486.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2012.02.018. Epub 2012 Apr 5. Erratum in: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2012 Jun;51(6):660. PMID: 22525954.
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