DANGEROUS AGE: The Older the Man, the Higher the Risk for His Offspring

Photo by Isaac Quesada on Unsplash

Fatherhood in old age is becoming an increasingly common trend in the modern world. Typically, we don’t consider the impact a father’s age can have on his children’s health. A study published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open aims to raise awareness about the risks associated with «mature» fatherhood.

FATHERHOOD ISSUES — NOT A PRIORITY!

It’s well known that motherhood has biological limitations, and having a child becomes quite challenging for a woman after a certain age. The biological clock ticks relentlessly, keeping many women awake at night with worry. It influences too much in life, from career choices to the nature of personal relationships. It also fuels the existence of the IVF industry, which is built on technologies that enable fertilization outside the mother’s body. Today, this industry’s revenue reaches 819 million US dollars.

One way or another, people are well-informed about the challenges of «mature» motherhood. Much less is known about the fact that «mature» fatherhood carries its risks. And these risks are increasingly concerning researchers.

MATURE FATHERS ARE ON THE RISE

Specifically, this refers to men who father children after the age of 50. If not globally, then at least in the Western world, the number of such fathers is steadily increasing. Men are more frequently having children later in life, and this is becoming a cultural norm. Recent studies show that in the U.S., the proportion of fathers aged 50 and older at the time of their child’s birth is consistently rising.

Scientists consider it quite likely that children of «mature» fathers may face specific health and developmental issues. This concern hasn’t received much attention because we live in a world where the focus on childbearing is usually on the mother’s role. Society is far less focused on the father’s age.

TRAPPED BY GENDER ROLES

American fathers are increasingly choosing to have children later in life — scientists unanimously acknowledge this fact. However, there are many different theories about why this trend is happening. For example, Stanford University urologist Albert Hah and his colleagues believe that the declining focus on men’s «biological clocks» and the desire to achieve educational and financial stability before starting a family are to blame.

In any case, people are not very aware of the consequences of late fatherhood. Preliminary research has shown that the influence of gender norms on parental behavior remains significant. In most families, the father is still seen in his traditional role — as the «breadwinner».

However, it is becoming increasingly difficult for modern young men to succeed in this role fully.

THE OLDER THE FATHER, THE HIGHER THE RISKS

Meanwhile, a study that began in 2018 uncovered numerous risks associated with mature fatherhood. The researchers summarized data from 2007 to 2016, analyzing more than 40 million birth episodes in American families.

As a result, they came to a clear conclusion: children born to fathers older than 35 are at higher risk of adverse outcomes. The most common issues among newborns of «older» fathers include low birth weight, breathing problems at birth, seizures, and more.

The older the father, the greater the risk. For fathers aged 45 and above, the risk of premature birth increases by 14%. Babies of men aged 50 and older are 28% more likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.

AVERAGE AGE OF FATHERS

In his latest study, Dr. Hah and his team analyzed over 46 million recorded birth cases in the U.S. from 2011 to 2022. They found that the percentage of American families facing these risks is growing, and these risks are clearly linked to the increasing number of men deciding to become fathers at an older age.

«Recent socio-economic and demographic trends have shifted the timing of family formation in the U.S., with many couples delaying childbirth more frequently», says Albert Hah. The average age of fathers in the U.S. is steadily rising. In 2011, it was 30.8 years, and by 2022, it had increased to 32.1 years.

The percentage of births involving fathers aged 50 and older has also increased, from 1.1% in 2011 to 1.3% in 2022. While this growth may seem small in percentage terms, it represents a significant increase in absolute numbers.

LATE FATHERHOOD AND FIRST BIRTHS

The older the father, the less natural the birth process tends to be. Even when adjusting for the mother’s age and other factors, every 10-year increase in the father’s age raises the proportion of births involving assisted reproductive technologies.

This is mainly because late fatherhood often coincides with the mother’s first pregnancy, creating additional challenges. The researchers suggest that the father’s age also affects fertility, pregnancy progression, and child health.

«Age-related conditions like erectile dysfunction and hypogonadism impair paternal fertility, while advanced age is associated with reduced sperm volume, motility, and morphology», concludes Dr. Hah.

«DAMAGED» DNA

Scientific evidence shows that an older paternal age correlates with decreased sperm quality. This means that half of the genes inherited by the child are more likely to undergo DNA fragmentation, have an abnormal number of chromosomes, or exhibit new mutations and epigenetic changes.

The authors of the study warn that «a range of changes in older men may increase the risk of conditions such as autism, childhood cancer, achondroplasia, and schizophrenia, reduce the likelihood of success in assisted reproductive technologies, and increase the risk of perinatal complications».

WANT A GIRL? HAVE A BABY AT 70!

Perhaps the only factor that mature fatherhood doesn’t significantly impact is the child’s gender. Overall, there were no significant differences in the gender ratio of infants based on the father’s age. However, there is one exception: men aged 70 and older were more likely to have daughters.

In conclusion, it’s important to note that the study does not aim to diminish the joy of fatherhood and motherhood, which everyone deserves to experience at any age. The researchers’ goal is to raise public awareness about the risks of mature fatherhood and further explore the factors driving this societal trend.

Original Research: