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AIBU?

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Original poster

Older parents and autism/aspergers

163 replies

JamSandle · 29/09/2022 13:18

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?

OP posts:
babyyodaxmas · 01/10/2022 09:29

I thought we were describing levels 1-3 in accordance with DSM 5

Willyoujustbequiet · 01/10/2022 10:06

I wish some posters would stop saying it's purely genetic as it's not. It's not helpful.

Pixnix · 01/10/2022 10:19

FromageRouge · 30/09/2022 21:17

Because the only thing that matters in daily life are needs and presentation. The social model of disability. An individual’s own experience of being autistic. (All experience is lived BTW. If it isn’t “lived”, then it isn’t experience. So that’s an inane tautology).

Lots of autists don’t even consider themselves disordered, but for some reason people like you are hellbent on telling them that firstly, that they’re disordered and, secondly, that they should have fellow feeling for a group of people with learning difficulties that they have next to nothing in common with. It’s an assertion with little real world relevance.

Show quote history

I'll ask again - why is it only autism that requires a different diagnosis for people who have a comorbid LD and not epilepsy, ADHD, asthma, cancer etc.

It sounds like you're advocating for the exact opposite of the social model of disability tbh.

greenteafiend · 01/10/2022 12:52

It's definitely not purely genetic. Autistic behaviors have been noted in individuals who have suffered birth injuries, coma and the like.

FromageRouge · 01/10/2022 12:55

greenteafiend · 01/10/2022 12:52

It's definitely not purely genetic. Autistic behaviors have been noted in individuals who have suffered birth injuries, coma and the like.

Type one diabetes resembles type 2 diabetes. It doesn’t make them the same condition.

greenteafiend · 01/10/2022 13:00

There are also higher rates of autism in children whose mothers had febrile symptoms (high fever) during pregnancy. Autism rates also vary by time of year, being higher for those who were gestated at some times of the month.

Definitely not just genetics; probably a mixture of (complex) genetics and some environmental factors.

Goldyfishy · 01/10/2022 13:04

Maybe neurodivergent people are more likely to have children at 40 than at 20?

FromageRouge · 01/10/2022 13:05

greenteafiend · 01/10/2022 13:00

There are also higher rates of autism in children whose mothers had febrile symptoms (high fever) during pregnancy. Autism rates also vary by time of year, being higher for those who were gestated at some times of the month.

Definitely not just genetics; probably a mixture of (complex) genetics and some environmental factors.

Or else more than one condition? Until we have a medical test, it’s all quite subjective.

greenteafiend · 01/10/2022 13:11

As I mentioned, they are working on polygenetic studies for autism. It should become clearer as time goes on.

Re: age, the best way to control for "ND people may be more likely to have kids later" would probably be to look at men who have children in a first and subsequent, later relationship, and see whether autism rates are higher in the second union.

Goldyfishy · 01/10/2022 13:12

@MermaidMummy06 - That is a really goof point. Very young parents are possibly not as likely to be able to recognise, research, advocate and even pay for a private assessment, in comparison to older parents who may waited until later in life because they were concentrating on building careers and carefully selecting the right person.

Whowhatwherewhenwhynow · 01/10/2022 13:13

I think the risk of almost all conditions increase with parental age don’t they. I think people are generally aware of this risk though.

FromageRouge · 01/10/2022 13:16

Goldyfishy · 01/10/2022 13:12

@MermaidMummy06 - That is a really goof point. Very young parents are possibly not as likely to be able to recognise, research, advocate and even pay for a private assessment, in comparison to older parents who may waited until later in life because they were concentrating on building careers and carefully selecting the right person.

Even undiagnosed ND people might plausibly take longer on average to find a partner, become established and decide to have children.

Vittoria123 · 05/07/2024 13:43

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.

hi
i am in the same boat . My daughter is 17 months and highly likely to be autistic. She on track with all her milestones but recently she developed food aversion . No one in my family or DH’s family has ASD . I am feeling extremely alone

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