Huge study links older dads with kids' psych woes
Compared with kids of the youngest dads, those fathered by men at age 45 and older faced risks almost 25 times greater for bipolar disorder; 13 times greater for ADHD; more than three times greater for autism; almost three times greater for suicide attempts; and about two times greater for schizophrenia and substance abuse.They speculate a lot about mutations in sperm, but I'm skeptical of that.
Older fathers probably have higher incidence and more severe chronic illnesses that they transmit to their children.
Posted by Heidi Lindborg on February 27, 2014
May 24, 2016:
Why Do Older Fathers Carry Higher Autism Risk?
All the data indicates autism is an infectious/immune problem.
And older people are more likely to have acquired chronic infections.
And infections are contagious FFS!
If subclinically sick old men have transferred certain microbes like flu or strep to their baby-mommies, that would easily explain this outcome.
The mutations in sperm that increase with age are calculated to only cause less than 20% of autism.They give some scenarios that increase that a little, but they all show this is not primarily a genetic problem.
All the data indicates autism is an infectious/immune problem.
And older people are more likely to have acquired chronic infections.
And infections are contagious FFS!
If subclinically sick old men have transferred certain microbes like flu or strep to their baby-mommies, that would easily explain this outcome.