More and more scientific evidence shows the link between congenital abnormalities in children and the age of their fathers. Researchers from Georgetown University claim that the defects of the child’s body are the result of epigenetic changes that can be passed down from generation to generation. The work of researchers published in the American Journal of Stem Cells.
“We know that hormonal factors and psychological state of women during pregnancy affect the baby’s health. However, our new study shows that the same is true for the father. Age and way of life of men affect the molecules that control the function of genes,” says lead author Joanna Kitlinski (Joanna Kitlinska).
For example, a newborn may be diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome, although the mother of the child did not consume alcohol. As stated in the work, fathers 75% of children with FAS are alcoholics.
The scientists report relies on an array of evidence for the contribution of fathers to epigenetic changes in the offspring. To date, the dependence between age-related changes at the father and probability of schizophrenia, autism and congenital malformations in the baby.
There is good news: a healthy diet of a boy in adolescence has been linked with a decreased risk of death from cardiovascular disease in his children and grandchildren.
But the obesity of a father may provoke the child has a metabolic disorder, diabetes and even brain cancer. If a man is prone to stress, this increases the risk of mental disorders in his progeny. The father’s addiction to alcohol, as a rule, leads to weight reduction of the newborn, to reduce the volume of the brain and cognitive impairment.
“New data on the epigenetics of paternity should be considered in the development of clinical guidelines. Men also can make for myself the necessary conclusions. Further research will take into account epigenetic influences on the child from both parents, instead of considering the contribution of the father and mother separately,” said Kitlinski.
The age of the father influences health of future child
Alex Kudrin