A study from University of California, Davis shows that older women have a higher risk of having a baby with autism, compared to women who give birth at a younger age.
What is autism?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in 110 children in the U.S. has autism, which is…
A developmental disorder that causes problems with social and communications skills and repetitive or restrictive behaviors.
I’m not completely surprised at UC Davis’s finding, as prior research shows that older women tend to give birth to children with more diseases than younger women. But this new piece of information is what caught my attention…
According to the same study, men over 40 years of age who have children with young women have almost a 60% higher risk of having a child with autism. So it’s not just the women who have to think about the risks associated with having kids at an older age.
If you’re thinking of having children and you’re, say, over 40, talk to your doctors about the risks. Get counseling if you have to. The more people you talk to, the more you’ll be informed of the risks and benefits of having children at an older age.
Did you give birth to a child even though you are over 40 years of age? Is your child healthy? Did you consult your doctor before making the decision to have kids knowing the risks associated with it?
Older Moms More Apt to Have Autistic Child [Yahoo!]
