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. 2011 Dec;41(12):1733-7.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-011-1202-4.

Brief report: no association between parental age and extreme social-communicative autistic traits in the general population

Elise B Robinson  1 , Kerim Munir, Marie C McCormick, Karestan C Koenen, Susan L Santangelo
Affiliations

Brief report: no association between parental age and extreme social-communicative autistic traits in the general population

Elise B Robinson et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2011 Dec.

Abstract

This is the first investigation of the relationship between parental age and extreme social-communicative autistic traits in the general population. The parents of 5,246 children in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) completed the Social and Communication Disorders Checklist (SCDC). The association between parental age and SCDC scores was assessed in the full sample and among high scoring individuals (e.g. top 5%, 1%). There was no association between parental age and social-communicative autistic traits in the general population. Neither maternal nor paternal age was associated with extreme scores. These findings suggest that advanced parental age does not confer increased risk for extreme social and communication impairment assessed quantitatively.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Relationship between parental age and autistic traits in the general population. Note: Mean SCDC scores following adjustment for: co-parent age, maternal and paternal socioeconomic status, maternal psychiatric history, history of pregnancy complications N(m) = number of mothers in each age group; N(f) = number of fathers in each age group
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Mean parental age across the distribution of quantitative trait scores. Note: Mean parental age following adjustment for: co-parent age, maternal and paternal socioeconomic status, maternal psychiatric history, history of pregnancy complications
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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