Is there a correlation between the chances of being born with autism and the mother's age?

Question

My little brother, who is now 14, has Asperger's syndrome. It's not a particularly bad case; he just has some poor judgment in social settings and is not as focused on his schoolwork as he should be.

My mother had him when she was 32. If she had him when she was younger, would his chances of being diagnosed with Asperger's be less?

Answer 1

my mother had my brother when she was 31 and he is also 14, going on 15. he has Aspergers as well.

what an odd coincidence.

i don't know if there is a correlation, but i suspect there is. a lady i worked with had a son in her mid thirties and he ad Aspergers as well. for the most part, having children older does have a higher chance of complications.

Answer 2

Very unteresting point. I got diagnosed with aspergers/Autism in June and I'm 18. My mom was 33 and dad was 34. There's a new study out that says it's not the mother's age, it's the fathers. Higher risks being at 40+.

Now All of my cousin's on my mother's side have it too, so I'm beginning to wonder if genes have anything to do with it

Answer 3

As a teacher I know several children with Autism.  All of the mother's ages range greatly.  I do not believe their is a correlation between age and Autism that I am aware of.  The cause of Autism is unknown so the increased risk of genetic diseases and birth defects may or may not be a factor.

I have never heard of any increased risks at the age of 32, the youngest I have heard is 35, which I feel is fairly extreme.  Most do not consider these risks to be potential harmful until the age of 40.

Answer 4

The correlation for Autism is with the father's age.  None so far for the mother.  32 is not considered as a particularly late age for women to give birth, even for Down's Syndrome.  The latest studies are hinting at induced labor trauma and Cesareans, due to the lack of oxytocin emitted from  the mother at the time of a vaginal birth, may be a factor in Autism.  Pitocin, the artificial form of Oxytocin, given to cause contractions, does not appear to be a full replacement for Oxytocin.  Oxytocin is called the love drug, and causes a biological bond to form between the mother and child.  In the absence of this drug, the child may not form the proper attachments to the mother, or anyone else.  There must be other factors in play that are unknown, because every induced/Cesarean birth does not cause Autism, but the numbers of Autistic children are growing quickly, at the same time that Cesarean sections are becoming a preferred method of childbirth.  

     There is a very good documentary done by Rikki Lake about home births and mid-wives, that talks about this very subject.  It is unlikely that the medical community will do any real research into the failings of pitocin, or the extra trauma that an induced labor causes for the child, since they would be opening themselves up for lawsuits, but a correlation has been shown.  Correlation not necessarily being causation.

Answer 5

I've read that there is a correlation between autism and the FATHER'S age.

I'll try to find that article.

Answer 6

I dont think 32 is very old for giving birth. I think the higher risk of autism comes more with women over 35 having babies. I know that women's peak fertility is before the age of 27. after that age, your eggs start to get old and funny things sometimes happen with your children. but as you know many people have babies after the age of 27 and they are mostly fine.

Answer 7

Well, I don't know alot about this, but I've heard that children are born with autism for one of two reasons.

One, the mom was healthy but over the age of 30 when she had the child.

Two, the mom was under the age of 25 and chronically using drugs or alcohol.

I know 3 kids with autism, 2 have mothers who were young when they had them and the moms were on drugs, and the other child was born to a 40 year old but otherwise healthy woman.

Answer 8

The older the mother, the greater chance of the baby having genetic or developmental problems.  Usually, they start doing more extensive tests for pregnant women if they're 35 or over, for just that reason.  However, I don't believe they have yet determined for sure what causes autism and autism spectrum disorders.  There are many solid theories but so far no definitive proof.