Paternal age at birth and high-functioning autistic-spectrumdisorder in offspring

BackgroundPrevious studies have reported the association between advanced paternalage at birth and the risk of autistic-spectrum disorder in offspring,including offspring with intellectual disability.AimsTo test whether an association between advanced paternal age at birth isfound in offspring with high-functioning autistic-spectrum disorder (i.e.offspring without intellectual disability).MethodA case–control study was conducted in Japan. The participants consistedof individuals with full-scale IQ ⩾ 70, with a DSM–IV autistic disorderor related diagnosis. Unrelated healthy volunteers were recruited ascontrols. Parental ages were divided into tertiles (i.e. three ageclasses). Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated usinglogistic regression analyses, with an adjustment for age, gender andbirth order.ResultsEighty-four individuals with autistic-spectrum disorder but withoutintellectual disability and 208 healthy controls were enrolled. Increasedpaternal, but not maternal, age was associated with an elevated risk ofhigh-functioning autistic-spectrum disorder. A one-level advance inpaternal age class corresponded to a 1.8-fold increase in risk, afteradjustment for covariates.ConclusionsAdvanced paternal age is associated with an increased risk forhigh-functioning autistic-spectrum disorder.