It has been a theory for a long time that older women are more
likely to give birth to children with mental illness and developmental issues
than younger women are. The article Father’s Age Is Linked to Risk of Autism
and Schizophrenia, was written by Benedict Carey and published by The New
York Times on August 22, 2012. Carey’s article reveals that in the cases of
complicated neurological disorders, it is not the mother’s age that is the risk
factor, but the father’s age. This conclusion is a huge breakthrough in
science, but it is based off a single research study and there still needs to
more research done to confirm this new information.
The science behind the conclusion that it the father’s age is a
factor in the likelihood of a child developing neurological disorders is very
logical. As men age, the number of sperm mutations steadily increases by about two
every year, some of which cause complications and some of which do not. This is
due to the frequent sperm cell splitting and the sperm’s susceptibility to
environmental factors, which the female’s eggs to not undergo. The increasing
number of autism and schizophrenia cases in the last few decades is partially a
result of a larger population of aged fathers, and partially do to other
contributing factors. The link between father’s age and risk of autism and
schizophrenia is the first important and scientifically sound breakthrough in
finding the causes of these complex mental illnesses.
There is still too little to known about the nervous system and
human genetics, to fully understand the cause of complicated disorders. Even
though the science makes sense, Father’s Age Is Linked to Risk of Autism and
Schizophrenia is a news article
and therefore should not be taken as absolute truth. News articles have been
known to manipulate the truth in order to make more interesting stories. There
is little known about genetics, and they often are wrongfully blamed as the
cause of mental disorders. Genetic optimism can be seen in Father’s
Age Is Linked to Risk of Autism and Schizophrenia, and therefore the
article should be taken only as a gain of salt (Conrad 2001).
If the science in the article is factual and proven, then the
next step for scientists is to find what the other contributing factors are.
The risk factor of the father’s age only accounts for 20 or 30 percent of the
cases. What accounts for the other 70-80 percent and why do the number of
diagnoses continue to rise? Studies have proven that other popular theories,
such as a mother’s age, and mercury in vaccinations, are not likely causes. Studies
must continue to be done until a full understanding of the mental disorders has
been achieved, if are ever going to determine the behavior or causes of
complicated neurological disorders.
The information that a father’s age can cause complicated
neurological dysfunctions may be a powerful tool to society. With this
information we are more capable of understanding the complex mental diseases
and disorders. It is a stepping-stone in which we can use to gain more
information. With a better understanding we can take preventive measures, we
may be able to design better treatment options, and hopefully integrate
mentally ill people into society more proficiently.
~Lauren
Berg
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/health/fathers-age-is-linked-to-risk-of-autism-and-schizophrenia.html?_r=1&ref=research
