Children of older fathers may be at higher risk for mental illness

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Children of older fathers may be at higher risk for mental illness

Based on millions of children born in Sweden since the 1970s, researchers say those born to fathers older than 45 were significantly more likely to develop autism, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia than those born to much younger fathers. The analysis of all the births in Sweden over 28 years also found that children of older fathers were at heightened risk for substance abuse, suicide and academic failure. "Historically, the focus has been on the mothers' age at childbirth," lead author Brian D'Onofrio told Reuters Health. "This study is adding to a growing body of research that suggests we also need to consider fathers' age at childbearing." In the largest study to date on the effects of paternal age, D'Onofrio, an Indiana University psychologist, worked with Karolinska Institute researchers to analyze the civil and medical records of more than 2.6 million children born in Sweden between 1973 and 2001.

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