Page 6 | Older parents and autism/aspergers

JamSandle · 2022-09-29T12:18:55+00:00

To think there is a link between older parentage and autism/aspergers, and if so, should we be doing more to educate and prepare parents for this? Obviously an increasing number of parents are having their children later in life. Should we be doing more to make them aware of potential risk factors for themselves and their children as part of family planning?

AMindNeedsBooks · 29/09/2022 14:13

Where is the proof it is only genetic? I'm not saying in some cases it's not, but not ALL. Such a sweeping statement.

One person in my family is autistic. Only one. Complications at birth and I've heard many other stories similar - deprived of oxygen at birth.

candycaneframe · 29/09/2022 14:13

Ilostmysocks · 29/09/2022 14:10

@candycaneframe you don't speak on behalf of me. I wasn't offended by @eyeteevee 's comment. So wind your neck in before you speak on behalf of ND people

Wowzers

Someone is sensitive today

Willyoujustbequiet · 29/09/2022 14:12

eyeteevee · 29/09/2022 14:04

@Willyoujustbequiet

The sheer scientific ignorance in this discussion is very depressing. 'My child has autism and I was 22/26/30 when I had them. Therefore this link can't be true'. Oh dear God.

You are talking here to people who may be autistic themselves. Have a wee think about that before the crappy put downs. For me, responding to the thread and giving the ages I had my DC seemed normal, not ignorant. That will be the autism though, so perhaps drop the ignorance yourself.

You've tagged me but that wasnt my post.

I'd appreciate an apology

Ilostmysocks · 29/09/2022 14:10

@candycaneframe you don't speak on behalf of me. I wasn't offended by @eyeteevee 's comment. So wind your neck in before you speak on behalf of ND people

eyeteevee · 29/09/2022 14:08

@candycaneframe

Having autism doesn't mean you're incapable of making educated comments 
No but it does affect how we receive and communicate posts.

That's incredibly insulting to anyone with ASD to imply they're stupid

Oh don't be ridiculous, it was the post I responded to that implied stupidity. I was just saying go easy because you know, autistic people actually do think, and react differently.

Ilostmysocks · 29/09/2022 14:07

@eyeteevee 👏 well said

Fancy making a crappy put down comment when they can't even read the room. Lack of self awareness perhaps
😁

Bobbybobbins · 29/09/2022 14:06

I have two severely autistic DS. Had both in early 30s and no genetic link either side if the family. Sometimes it just happens!

candycaneframe · 29/09/2022 14:05

eyeteevee · 29/09/2022 14:04

@Willyoujustbequiet

The sheer scientific ignorance in this discussion is very depressing. 'My child has autism and I was 22/26/30 when I had them. Therefore this link can't be true'. Oh dear God.

You are talking here to people who may be autistic themselves. Have a wee think about that before the crappy put downs. For me, responding to the thread and giving the ages I had my DC seemed normal, not ignorant. That will be the autism though, so perhaps drop the ignorance yourself.

Having autism doesn't mean you're incapable of making educated comments

That's incredibly insulting to anyone with ASD to imply they're stupid

hulahooper2 · 29/09/2022 14:04

Yabvu

eyeteevee · 29/09/2022 14:04

Yup, it's actually a little worrying grown adults think like this

Grown, autistic adults.

eyeteevee · 29/09/2022 14:04

@Willyoujustbequiet

The sheer scientific ignorance in this discussion is very depressing. 'My child has autism and I was 22/26/30 when I had them. Therefore this link can't be true'. Oh dear God.

You are talking here to people who may be autistic themselves. Have a wee think about that before the crappy put downs. For me, responding to the thread and giving the ages I had my DC seemed normal, not ignorant. That will be the autism though, so perhaps drop the ignorance yourself.

candycaneframe · 29/09/2022 13:58

WhisperingJesse · 29/09/2022 13:52

The sheer scientific ignorance in this discussion is very depressing. 'My child has autism and I was 22/26/30 when I had them. Therefore this link can't be true'. Oh dear God.

Yup, it's actually a little worrying grown adults think like this

Ilostmysocks · 29/09/2022 13:56

WhisperingJesse · 29/09/2022 13:52

The sheer scientific ignorance in this discussion is very depressing. 'My child has autism and I was 22/26/30 when I had them. Therefore this link can't be true'. Oh dear God.

We aren't scientists. And it's an open discussion

😊 also it costs you nothing to be kind.

Willyoujustbequiet · 29/09/2022 13:54

FluffySocksAndHotChocolate · 29/09/2022 13:21

Autism is genetic. There is no link about the parents age to wether they have a hottest day ofspring.

Also influenced by environmental factors not just genetics.

WhisperingJesse · 29/09/2022 13:52

The sheer scientific ignorance in this discussion is very depressing. 'My child has autism and I was 22/26/30 when I had them. Therefore this link can't be true'. Oh dear God.

ofwarren · 29/09/2022 13:48

My mum had her autistic kids at 18 and 20 and then I had mine at 21 and 34.

SpinningFloppa · 29/09/2022 13:47

I was 22 when I had my daughter... she’s autistic, people say it’s genetic but no one in my family is autistic and only my kids are and I have 5 siblings no autism diagnosed with any of their children. I have 2 with asd, daughter was born first.

Ilostmysocks · 29/09/2022 13:45

I cannot for the life of me find it but I was recently sent a study discussing High Risk of Trisomy 21 and Autism.

I found it interesting because me, my brother and my son were all High Risk for Trisomy 21 defects (nuchal translucency) but didn't have it. Instead we all have aspergers.

I wasn't an older mum though, I was 25.

TimeforZeroes · 29/09/2022 13:43

Surely you’d need to consider the socio-conditions for older parents.

Arguably, some older adults with ASD/ suspected ASD have their own caveats for being older parents - taking longer to form relationships , access to independent living delayed, lives committed to academia over intrapersonal relationships - all would create a vague trend where they constitute a greater number of older parents and therefore - assuming genetic link - a greater number of children born with ASD.

candycaneframe · 29/09/2022 13:41

Of course there is a link, it's been studied previously

Will also explain why there has been an increase in ASD cases in line with average parental age creeping up

Cheeselog · 29/09/2022 13:39

Cheeselog · 29/09/2022 13:36

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

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Sorry, hadn’t cleared my calculator properly. It’s about 5%.

Babdoc · 29/09/2022 13:39

Autistic parents perhaps take longer to find a partner and feel ready for children, due to social difficulties. Genetically they would always be likely to have autistic children, whatever age they reproduced, but they may figure more in the older parent category, for that reason.
DH and my families contain large numbers of autistics. I am descended from the last child (by the second wife) of an ancestor in 1740, who was in his fifties when his wife conceived. Who knows whether his age produced the mutations that passed down the generations as autism, or whether he already had it.

Daftasabroom · 29/09/2022 13:36

@IncessantNameChanger when DS was diagnosed the psychiatrist told us that there were seven genes linked to ASCs. And could be inherited from either parent in any combination.

Opinion may have changed now.

Cheeselog · 29/09/2022 13:36

KassandraOfSparta · 29/09/2022 13:24

How many people in their mid 40s are having babies though?

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

eyeteevee · 29/09/2022 13:36

How many people in their mid 40s are having babies though?

Lots of men, actually.

Anyhow I was in my 20s when I had my first 2, then my youngest when I was 33. They are all autistic, as am I. Suspect DH, but he has never been assessed.