The relationship between father's age and autism

Compared to men under 30, the risk level of people over 40 increased sixfold. However, there is no relationship between mother's age and this disease.

The new study once again confirms the argument that both men and women have biological clocks, especially in the area of ​​healthy childbirth.

Scientists have looked at more than 100,000 children born in Israel in the 1980s.

They found that children with fathers under 30 are less likely to have autism, only six in 10,000 children. However, the risk level increased to 9 / 10,000 if the father was over 30 but less than 40; and up to 32 / 10,000 when men are over 40 but under 50 years old. In other words, men over 40 are six times more likely to have autism.

The age of the mother does not seem to be related. Previous studies have found that older men are more likely to give birth to children with schizophrenia.