Child Health: How does it make a difference to the child's health how old his/her fathers was when he/she was born

How does it make a difference to the child's health how old his/her fathers was when he/she was born?

Other - Pregnancy & Parenting - 3 Answers
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1 :
Older fathers are more likely to produce fetuses with chromosomal anomalies that lead to miscarriage or birth defects, shows new research. It was known that older women had a higher risk of such problems, but this is the first research to demonstrate a linear link between age and chromosome anomalies for men. Scientists at the University AutÃ²noma de Barcelona in Spain studied 200,000 sperm from 18 healthy donors aged 24 to 74 years. The percentage of sperm with double copies of all the chromosomes (diploidy) increases by 17 per cent for every 10 year increase in age, they found. "Over the age group we found an increase from 0.2 to 0.4 percent in the frequencies of diploidy," says Josep Egozcue, who led the research. Though this appears small, he told New Scientist, when the researchers checked back with the donors they found that those with the higher frequencies had children with chromosomal anomalies. Egozcue suggests that men over the age of 55 years should have their sperm checked for chromosomal anomalies before conceiving and should consider freezing their sperm when young. Richard Kennedy from the British Fertility Society says that men over 55 are not used as sperm donors anyway due to the quality of their semen. "The incidence of diploidy in older men is probably related to the fact that the pituitary is producing too much follicle stimulating hormone, which affects sperm," he said.
2 :
'spontaneous mutations in sperm-producing cells or alterations in genetic "imprinting," which affects gene expression.' Hope this helps
3 :
Because the older the father is at the time of conception, the greater chances of his child suffering any number of genetic defects-that seems to be the norm in the most recent studies I've read of as well as having seen some brief news bits on CNN and such....some of these problems a man who is older, even at the age of 40 and up, can cause in his children are the greater chances of having a child with Autism, but a couple of the other defects that I recall having read as I only quickly perused the article in, where else of course, but my doctor's office, are increased chances of dwarfism, I'm sure you're aware of what that is. But also what seems to be somewhat the opposite end of that spectrum and that is Marfan Syndrome. And one of the main characteristics of Marfan Syndrome (this is a disease of the connective tissue in the body. I actually have something called "Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome" which is also a defect in the soft connective tissue of the body, but I lack some of the obvious characteristics that are usually very obvious with someone with Marfan Syndrome.) Someone with Marfan is typically very tall, and the fact that this is a condition of the soft connective tissue in the body, a fact I'm far too familiar with unfortunately, means anyone can have any particular type, affecting different connective tissues, and it's more severe and obvious in some than in others. I know that with the condition I have that anyone with the defect of the tissues which connect the heart...or more specifically, hold it in place along with supporting organs, well, if I had that specific type of Ehlers-Danlos I wouldn't be here typing this as apparently no one has lived beyond the age of 30. Vascular is what I think that specific type is called, and it's likely called the same with Marfan Syndrome although I don't know the typical age where one could live if they did have that particular connective tissue problem. If I remember correctly, Abe Lincoln actually had Marfan Syndrome. Typically very tall, and for whatever reason it affects the longer bones in their bodies, such as fingers, toes, arms & such because they are disproportionately longer than the rest of their body. Oddly I knew about the Marfan Syndrome because of Abe Lincoln prior to learning that the problem I've always had with dislocating joints and more actually was a rare condition and it has a name as well as being hereditary. I read a lot. Sometimes maybe a bit much....NAH!!! I know a whole lot of information about a whole lot of nothing generally it seems! Can't believe I actually know a tiny bit about this condition then recently with the news reports as well as the article I read in the doctor's office about increased age in men at the time of conception actually DOES make a difference, causes more problems in children than was previously realized....because of course the woman has always been blamed for everything!! Even if the baby is a boy or a girl....and IF you don't know this....the MAN is the ONLY responsible party deciding the sex of a child!! Why? Hey, sorry, not a doctor, and I've also never even played one on TV, but I do know as I said, lots about nothing mostly, but I know this for a fact...a woman-FEMALE carries only ONE chromosone, and that is the X one. But the MAN is the one who carries BOTH the X and the Y Chromosone's so whatever he passes along in his sperm are what determines the sex of the child! Sure, there might be a tiny thing a woman might do to help....maybe have sex with that MALE more or less often to help (or most likely just HOPE along whatever sex it is that you might prefer, but not much else!) So if the MALE passes down (2) two of those XX's, it's a girl, if he passes along an X & Y chromosone, BOUNCING BABY BOY!! Sorry I'm not much help, but since you obviously have online access, (maybe not all the time though??) if you do have the time I strongly suggest researching further the information you're looking for. I actually don't know if the father you're asking or wondering about is older or younger!!! Hey, I'll bet Yahoo! Search might eventually come up with some information for you! But from my memory that's what I do know and I am NOT making any of this up off the top of my head, either! I did recently read about this as well as hear a brief news report. Good Luck to you and I hope I maybe helped? If not, I certainly did try!!!

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Saturday, December 12, 2009

How does it make a difference to the child's health how old his/her fathers was when he/she was born