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Autism Spectrum Disorders and Communication Disorders: Influences of Advanced Parental Age and Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology

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Abstract

Research suggests that two prenatal factors, advanced parental age and use of assisted reproductive technology (ART), may independently increase the likelihood for the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Our study evaluated the effect of advanced maternal and paternal ages (i.e., ages 35 and over) at the time of conception with and without the use of ART on the incidence of ASD and communication disorders (CD). We hypothesized that advanced parental age would be the strongest independent risk factor for the incidence of ASD and/or CD in offspring compared to younger parental age and use of ART. Information on 122 children was obtained through confidential survey. Parental ages at time of conception, diagnoses, use of ART, and infertility were considered. Results indicated that the risk of having a child with a CD increased significantly with either advanced maternal or paternal age. The risk of having a child diagnosed with ASD and/or CD was significantly higher for couples of advanced age, and the risk was significantly decreased for younger couples. Mothers of advanced age used ART at a significantly higher rate; however, this risk of having a child diagnosed with ASD and/or CD was not increased. Identification of risk factors (particularly combinations of risk factors) is essential for early detection of ASD and CD. The findings of our study, combined with other epidemiological data, may help to guide the development of prenatal screening tools and procedures. Implications are discussed.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by two William Paterson University of New Jersey Mini Grants through the Office of Sponsored Research to the first and second authors. The authors would like to thank Victoria Connors and Ariana Ventura for their help with the data management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Marymount Manhattan College, 221 East 71st Street, 7th Floor Main, New York, NY, 10021, USA

    Margaret T. Kamowski-Shakibai

  2. Department of Communication Disorders and Sciences, William Paterson University of New Jersey, 300 Pompton Road, University Hall, Wayne, NJ, 07470, USA

    Betty Kollia & Nicole Magaldi

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  1. Margaret T. Kamowski-Shakibai
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Correspondence to Margaret T. Kamowski-Shakibai.

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Kamowski-Shakibai, M.T., Kollia, B. & Magaldi, N. Autism Spectrum Disorders and Communication Disorders: Influences of Advanced Parental Age and Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology. Adv Neurodev Disord 1, 21–30 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41252-017-0006-8

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