Large population cohorts show advancing paternal age is associated with higher ASD risk (offspring of fathers 40+ had ~5.8× risk vs <30 after basic controls in this Israeli draft‑registry cohort). This raises concrete needs: (a) replication with modern robustness maps (sibling controls, negative controls, genetic confounding checks), (b) clearer reproductive counseling and public health communication about absolute versus relative risk, and (c) prioritized research into mechanisms (de novo mutations, imprinting).
— If advanced paternal age contributes meaningfully to autism liability, it affects demographic trends, reproductive counseling, research priorities, and how policymakers interpret rising autism counts versus diagnostic change.
2012.05.04
85% relevant
The Sandin et al. meta‑analysis provides closely parallel evidence for maternal age (rather than paternal age) as an independent perinatal risk factor for ASD; it directly connects to the existing idea that parental age effects can be framed as policy levers (reproductive counselling, research prioritization, preconception messaging). The article’s adjusted RR (≈1.31 for ≥35 vs 25–29) supplies the empirical magnitude referenced when treating parental‑age findings as a policy consideration.
2006.09.04
100% relevant
Reichenberg et al., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2006: population cohort from Israeli draft registry showing monotonic paternal‑age association and 5.75x relative risk for fathers 40+ after adjustment.
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