Fathering Age and Its Link to Mental Disorders in Children Group A: Joseph Dorion Raymond Poon Katya Francel Joshua Smith Lidya Mesgna Sheena Wong Victoria Moriarty Bethany Woodley

“Higher Risk of Suicide and Autism in Children Born to Older Dads” Advancing paternal age (APA) at childbearing is increased with increased risk of autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder Age of the father at conception is linked to the likelihood of de novo mutations which become present when a gene becomes present for the first time due to a mutation in the egg or sperm. Higher risk for fathers after 45 Advancing paternal age (APA) at childbearing is increased with increased risk of autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder Age of the father at conception is linked to the likelihood of de novo mutations which become present when a gene becomes present for the first time due to a mutation in the egg or sperm. Higher risk for fathers after 45

“Father’s Age is Linked to Risk of Autism and Schizophrenia” Children of older men are susceptible to mutations that become more numerous with older paternal age Study done by Decode Genetics: Children born to 20 year old fathers: 25 mutations Children of 40 year old fathers: 65 mutations Counters assumption that age of mother is more important in determining developmental problems Older men are more likely to father a child w/ autism or schizophrenia due to mutations that become more numerous with older paternal age Study done by Decode Genetics studied genetic material from 78 parent/child trios Children born to 20 year old fathers: 25 mutations Children of 40 year old fathers: 65 mutations Counters assumption that age of mother is more important in determining developmental problems

What is Suicide? & What are Symptoms of Suicidal Behavior? giving away belongings losing interest in previously enjoyed activities self-destructive behavior (i.e. drugs, alcohol, cutting) talking about feeling hopeless or guilty change in sleep or eating patterns having trouble concentrating or thinking clearly -Methods vary -Suicide is the intentional taking of one’s own life. -People are often trying to get away from some life situation that seems impossible to deal with.ide is the intentional taking of one’s own life. Symptoms: -giving away belongings -losing interest in previously enjoyed activities -self-destructive behavior (i.e. drugs, alcohol, cutting) -talking about feeling hopeless or guilty -change in sleep or eating patterns -having trouble concentrating or thinking clearly

Risk Factors for Suicidal Behavior aging money problems physical illness emotional trauma mental illness (including but not limited to schizophrenia) family history of suicide depression and substance abuse Risk factors include: -aging -money problems -physical illness -emotional trauma -mental illness (including but not limited to schizophrenia) -family history of suicide -depression and substance abuse

When and Who are Affected? 4:1 male to female ratio Adults over the age of 65 American Indians and Alaska Natives have great risk -Almost four times as many males as females die of suicide -Adults over the age of 65 are more likely to attempt suicide than any other age group -Ethnically, American Indians and Alasksa Natives have the highest rates of suicide

What is Schizophrenia? & What are Symptoms of Schizophrenic Behavior? 3 categories of symptoms: positive symptoms negative symptoms cognitive symptoms - A severe brain disorder in which the patients lack the ability to think clearly and to offer emotional responses. - Available treatment, but no cure has been found. -Positive Symptoms: obvious psychotic behaviors that come in phases including hallucination, delusions, thought disorder and movement disorder. - Negative Symptoms: less obvious symptoms that disturb emotions and behaviors including lack of pleasure, lack of ability to follow through with plans and lack of speech. - Cognitive Symptoms: less obvious symptoms that cause emotional burden including trouble focusing and problems with understanding and applying information.

When and Who are Affected? Both genders All ethnic groups Most get symptoms before age 45 Hallucinations and delusions - Affects both genders at equal rates. - Affects all ethnic groups at equal rates. - Most get symptoms before 45. - Hallucinations and delusions usually start between ages 16-30. - Is hard to detect in teen years, because the symptoms are less obvious.

Causes of Schizophrenia Genetics Environment Brain chemistry and structure Genetics: Occurs 10 times the rate of an average person when a first-degree relative is a patient. - Patients experience higher rates of rare genetic mutations. Environmental: Environmental factors such as problems during birth and malnutrition before birth adds to the genetic factors. Brain Chemistry & Structure: Slightly different brain structures and imbalance in chemical reactions.

What is Autism? & What are the Symptoms of Autistic Behavior? problems with communication impaired social skills problems interacting with the environment - A developmental disorder that causes impaired social communication and interaction. It is a disease that is characterized by profound difficulties in using language and understanding abstract concepts. - Can range from mild to severe. No cures for the disorder. Symptoms: -Problems with communication, social skills and/or interacting with the environment. Not all have all the problems listed. - Communications problems: limited speech and vocabulary, difficulties in expression and response, different speech and constantly repeating what is said. - Social skills difficulties: problems establishing friendships, dislikes being touched, showing emotions(crying/laughing) for no reason… - Problems interacting with the environment: not paying attention to sense info, using objects in strange ways, attached to physical objects, difficulties adapting to changes...

When and Who are Affected? Begins in early childhood 3 to 5 times more common in males than in females - Begins in childhood. Autistic children start having trouble communicating and problems with social interactions. - 3 - 5 times more common in males than in females.

Causes of Autism & Video Clip genetics infections of the brain exposures to toxins and illness during pregnancy Video Clip- (1:49-2:17) Autistic Teens - There is little known about what EXACTLY causes autism or the ways in which we can prevent it - Supposed causes of autism include genetics, infections of the brain and exposures to toxins and illness during pregnancy.

Which of the following disorders has NOT been linked to fathering age? iClicker Question: Which of the following disorders has NOT been linked to fathering age? A. Autism B. Attention Deficit Disorder C. Suicide D. Schizophrenia

Links Between the Y Chromosome and Diseases The probability of some chromosomal abnormalities, like Down syndrome, increases for older mothers For autism, schizophrenia, and suicide, the majority of the genetic risk originates in the sperm, not the egg! The probability of some chromosomal abnormalities, like Down syndrome, increases for older mothers For autism, schizophrenia, and suicide, the majority of the genetic risk originates in the sperm, not the egg

A Case Study: Iceland Sperm vs. Eggs 78 families (mother, father and child) Fathers → average of 55 mutations passed onto offspring Mothers → average of 14 mutations passed onto offspring Icelandic children born in 2011 → 70 mutations (avg. fathering age 33) Icelandic children born in 1980 → 60 mutations (avg. fathering age 28) Sperm vs. Eggs 78 families (mother, father and child) Fathers → average of 55 mutations passed onto offspring Mothers → average of 14 mutations passed onto offspring Icelandic children born in 2011 → 70 mutations (avg. fathering age 33) Icelandic children born in 1980 → 60 mutations (avg. fathering age 28)

iClicker Question: The following couples are expecting children. Father A is 32 and Mother A is 37. Father B is 50 and Mother B is 28. Which baby is likely to inherit more chromosomal mutations from his/her father? A. Baby A B. Baby B

Sources http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/273270.php http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/health/fathers-age-is-linked-to-risk-of-autism-and-schizophrenia.html?_r=1& http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/autism/ http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/schizophrenia/index.shtml?utm_source=wordtwit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wordtwit http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/learn/riskfactors.aspx http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/27/health/mental-illness-risk-higher-for-children-of-older-parents-study-finds.html?_r=0 http://www.nature.com/news/fathers-bequeath-more-mutations-as-they-age-1.11247

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