Mental Illness Risk Higher for Children of Older Fathers, Study Finds

posted in: Childhood Mental Health | 0

Children born to middle-aged men are more likely than those born to younger fathers to develop any of a range of mental difficulties, including attention deficits, bipolar disorder, autism and schizophrenia, according to the most comprehensive study to date of paternal age and offspring mental health.

In recent years, scientists have debated based on mixed evidence whether a father’s age is linked to his child’s vulnerability to individual disorders like autism and schizophrenia. Some studies have found strong associations,while others have found weak associations or none at all.

Read New York Times article HERE