Does elder male childbearing increase the risk of chromosomal abnormalities?
With the development of society, people's ideas have gradually changed, and more and more men choose to meet the role of father in their old age. However, it is a topic of great concern whether the elderly male fertility will increase the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. This article will elaborate on this from four aspects.
1. Germ cell variation
Germ cells are the basis for procreation, and male germ cells will also change with age. The study found that with the increase of men's age, the DNA quality of sperm will decline, thus increasing the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. Chromosome abnormalities are conditions in which the number, structure or function of chromosomes are abnormal, such as Down's syndrome and Crohn's syndrome. Therefore, the elderly male fertility will indeed increase the risk of chromosomal abnormalities.
In addition to chromosomal abnormalities, germ cell mutations may also lead to an increased risk of other genetic diseases. For example, mutations in a gene may lead to hereditary diseases in children born to men, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and cystic fibrosis.
2. The sperm quality decreases
In addition to germ cell mutation, the elderly male fertility also faces the problem of sperm quality decline. Research shows that there is a certain correlation between the increase of male age and the decline of semen quality. Specifically, the increase of age will lead to the decrease of sperm number, the decrease of sperm vitality and the increase of the proportion of morphologically deformed sperm. These will increase the incidence of chromosomal abnormalities.
In addition, aging may also lead to sperm DNA damage, which further increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. The research found that with the increase of male age, the DNA breakage and repair mechanism of sperm will be affected, leading to DNA damage more difficult to repair, thus increasing the risk of chromosomal abnormalities.
3. Correlation between father's age and children's health
In addition to the risk of chromosomal malformations, male elder childbearing may also be related to children's health problems. A study found that an increase in father's age was associated with an increased risk of autism and mental illness in children. Although this association has yet to be further studied to determine the causal relationship, it still reminds people of their concern about the elderly male fertility.
In addition, male elder childbearing may also be related to children's intellectual development and mental health. The study found that there was a certain negative correlation between the increase of father's age and children's cognitive ability and academic performance. This may be due to the variation of germ cells and the decline of sperm quality caused by aging, which in turn affects the genetic composition of children, and thus affects their intelligence and mental health.
4. Actual situation of the hospital
The relationship between the above risks and male elderly childbearing is a conclusion drawn from a large number of studies and has been recognized by some hospitals. For example, the Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States has explicitly mentioned on its website that male elderly childbearing will increase the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. This shows that this problem has attracted the attention of the medical community and society, and people need to have a clear understanding of the risks of male elderly childbearing.
To sum up, the elderly male childbearing does increase the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. This is due to germ cell variation and sperm quality decline and other reasons. In addition, male elder childbearing is also related to children's health problems. Therefore, when choosing to have children, men should timely understand and recognize these risks and make wise decisions.
