Recent research has focused on a seemingly high rate of psychiatric disorders in the offspring of older fathers. New research in JAMA Psychiatry, using data drawn from nearly 3 million people (totaling 42.7 million person-years) in the Danish Psychiatric Central Research Register, finds that the offspring of both older and younger parents (below 25 and above 29 years) were at increased risk of mental health diagnoses.
Of note:
The article further specifies that the offspring of older fathers were at an increased risk of schizophrenia and related diagnoses, mental retardation, and autism spectrum disorders, which the offspring of young mothers (and to a lesser extent young fathers) were at an increased risk for substance use disorders, hyperkinetic disorders, and mental retardation.
McGrath, J., Peterson, L., Agerbo, E., Mors, O., et al.; A Comprehensive Assessment of Parental Age and Psychiatric Disorders. JAMA Psychiatry. Online January 22, 2014. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.4081
