Older parents and autism/aspergers

Surely the fact it's not agreed conclusively means you can't sit there and claim with any certainty it's genetic

There have been studies into this which also highlight other factors

In 2021, 30,542 babies were born to mothers aged 40 and over - around 16% of the total."

Most of those would not be in their mid 40s. I know 41 year olds who had babies. I don't know any at 44/45.

I know lots of men who did though.

We don't have a deficiency, we just think differently.

you don't have a "deficiency". Tell that to the parent of a child with level 3 autism, severe learning difficulties, non verbal, totally unable to interact with the world around them. Autism is not one single condition, its so wide ranging.

I'm pretty sure I've also read that from more than one source.

Lots of men wait to have children.i think the genetic link probably is stronger though.

It's genetic in my family. But having done some research, I'm more likely to have it due to my neurological problems.

"In 2021, 30,542 babies were born to mothers aged 40 and over - around 16% of the total."

Most of those would not be in their mid 40s. I know 41 year olds who had babies. I don't know any at 44/45.

The biggest factor is having family members who have autism.

As an autistic person, having autism can be really shitty but also...

1. I have a ridiculous level of focus
2. I have the power to spot patterns where others can't
3. I am highly skilled
4. I can learn things quicker than other people

I think the link about age being 5 - 10% more is unbalanced.

Older parents are more likely to seek diagnosis because of experience, knowledge and money to diagnose. There's also a lot of social and family pressure not to assess due to stigma - we copped it - but had the financial independence and confidence to ignore it. At least that's my experience.

Genetics is unproven, but I've discovered since my DS was diagnosed that it's all through my family, either undiagnosed or kept hush-hush. It needs more discussion & investigation, not random incorrect information.

Jeez. I'm 41, with low thyroid (medicated), low iron (medicated), low vitamin D (medicated, another risk factor), father early 40s too (42). No familial history.... I'll wait and see how this pans out.

I was 20 when I had my first and 25 when I has my second. Both are autistic. My nephew is also autistic and my sister was 30 when he was born. We've been told it's genetic and it doesn't seem to have anything to do with our ages.
On a side note, I'm curious about whether mum's with thyroid issues increases the risk.

I'm not sure how any genuinely useful studies can be made on this yet, given the vast number of cases which are still missed.

It's not like Down syndrome which can be very clearly identified without fail, thereby making it possible to draw clearer causative links between the age of the parents and risk.

It may be that the children of younger parents just haven't been identified yet. Some children don't get diagnosed until they are in their teens. And some children - especially girls - don't get diagnosed at all.

Until there's a far more consistent and reliable method of diagnosing autism, any links to causative factors is primarily just speculative.

A pattern of inheritance is the single thing that seems to come up time and again, so there's an increasing belief that genetics is one of the most common causes. But again, without the fuller picture on diagnosis, it's really just an idea, nothing more.

I'm autistic and my two DC are autistic. I strongly, STRONGLY suspect my mum is autistic, but she's never been diagnosed. I also think my brother is autistic.

I was reading some research a little while ago which was referencing the possibility of there being identifiable differences in the brain MRI of autistic people. If this were to be the case, it would make it much more accurate to diagnose and then carry out more accurate research into common factors/risk factors. We're not "all a little bit autistic" as sometimes is claimed - the autistic brain is believed to operate in a very different way. This might be the route that leads us to better diagnosis and in turn, more accurate understanding of the cause.

And do the older fathers also have a higher percentage of autistic people?

I want unborn children to be protected in law to allow them to be born

The slight skew in paternal age (and I can’t remember when I last saw the actual stats for this, so speaking generally) could easily be accounted for by social factors related to underlying genetics. So they’re hard to give weight to.

There is a link between older dad's (ie 40s+) and autism in children but equally I have autism and my parents were both in their early 30 when I was born. Plus my brother believes he may be autistic and my parents were in their late 20s when he was born.

It’s genetic, and the sooner that is fully and conclusively agreed , the better.

That you haven't told us how old your daughter is?

Most over-40 births are to women of 40, 41 and 42. Only a small % are to women in their mid 40s.
twitter.com/Anne_red_head/status/1567864627970691072

Yeah but stating the obvious, a mother aged 40 or over could be 40, or 41. "mid 40s " is 44/45/46. And those couple of years at that age makes a massive difference.

You'd need to disentangle maternal age from paternal age. But this research is complex. Multiple factors at play.

As far as I was aware, there isn't one "cause" of autism. It's not yet fully understood and I don't think it's simple.

There is a genetic component - but some seem to have taken this to mean that if a child is autistic, one or both of the parents "must" be too. Yes, maybe many are - but also a lot won't be, and I don't mean those unaware, or in denial.

It's something of a personal irritation - I have an autistic DD and shortly after diagnosis we signed up for some local family SN support, thinking they'd suggest new strategies and ways to help and support her. The support worker spent more time trying to find out of DH or I were autistic (neither of us display any of the traits, both well-known or wider - and yes, we've read into it - both score v low on initial "screening" questionnaires, though there are some traits in wider family), than actually suggesting anything that could help us or her. How does late Uncle So-and-So having traits, none of which were the same as hers, help her and us now? We had few strategies suggested, little advice. Other than "maybe she doesn't want friends" (she does). I've also noticed a clear shift in the way professionals address us, more patronising almost. Which isn't appropriate even if we were autistic.

Don't even get me started on "x is rude = autistic"
"y is a bit quiet = autistic" "z has a quirky niche hobby = autistic"
"w is blunt and uncompromising = autistic" - it's not a byword for other people's at-times unfavourable character traits.

And a couple of minor "traits" can often be just that - traits. Like people who are tidy claiming to be "OCD" - it's seemingly harmless, but armchair diagnoses and glib remarks can often minimise the real struggles people go through.

There are well-documented health risks associated with later parenthood, and increased likelihood of many other conditions, not just autism, but most older parents choose to take on those risks in the knowledge that things will mostly be OK, and age isn't the only factor.

@babyyodaxmas Interesting, thanks! I do have twins, one is ND, one NT!

I'm autistic. My dad was 44 when I was born and although the term was obviously not applicable in the 50's in my judgement he was too. His father however was only 25 or so when he was born and I have no way of knowing his personal traits. Make of that what you will.

I was 36 when my severely autistic son was born he does have an underlying chromosome deletion .

There are increased risk factors for lots of conditions associated with older parents. No idea if autism is one of them, but I don't see why that one would be singled out for warnings over any other.