The Effect of Aging Fertility on Gene Mutation
With the progress of society and the development of medical technology, more and more women choose to postpone childbearing. However, the elderly childbearing has brought a series of health risks, one of which is gene mutation. This article will elaborate on the influence of gene mutation caused by aging birth from four aspects: birth defects, genetic diseases, intellectual development and life expectancy.
Infant birth defects
Older childbearing increases the risk of birth defects. Research shows that the increase of female age is positively related to the frequency of chromosome abnormalities. For example, pregnant women over 35 years old are several times more likely to suffer from Down syndrome than young women. This is because chromosomal abnormalities may occur during the formation of female eggs in the womb. The older the woman is, the greater the probability of this situation. These chromosomal abnormalities can lead to defects in the physical and intellectual development of infants.
In addition, elderly childbearing is also associated with the increased risk of other birth defects, such as heart disease, spina bifida, etc. Although the specific mechanism is not clear, research has found that the DNA quality and quantity of female eggs will decline with age, thus increasing the risk of birth defects.
Genetic disease
Older childbearing also increases the risk of genetic diseases. With the increase of age, the female reproductive system will also age, and the quality and quantity of eggs will decline. This will increase the probability of genetic material variation in the egg, thus increasing the transmission risk of genetic diseases. For example, the elderly fertility is related to the increased incidence of genetic diseases such as adult polycystic kidney disease and hereditary deafness.
In addition, if the father is also an elderly child, the risk of genetic diseases will further increase. Because the DNA quality of male sperm will also decline with age. Therefore, couples who are both old and have children may face higher risk of genetic diseases.
Intellectual development
Older childbearing may also have adverse effects on the intellectual development of infants. Research shows that children born to younger mothers perform better on intelligence tests. This phenomenon may be related to the large fluctuation of hormone levels in the blood of elderly pregnant women, which may have adverse effects on the neural development of the fetus.
In addition, a study found that children whose mothers are older than 35 years old have relatively weak abilities in mathematics and reading. This may be due to the abnormal development of neurons in the fetal brain associated with aging and fertility. Therefore, the elderly childbearing may lead to adverse effects on infant intellectual development.
life
Older childbearing may be related to the life span of children. Research shows that the older the parents are, the shorter the life span of their children is. This may be related to the aging genes inherited by parents to their children after childbirth. In addition, elderly childbearing may also lead to the aging of the mother's immune system at the time of birth, thus making infants more vulnerable to senile diseases and further affecting life expectancy.
To sum up, the impact of gene mutation caused by aging birth on infants is mainly reflected in birth defects, genetic diseases, intellectual development and life expectancy. Therefore, for couples who plan to give birth at an advanced age, they should fully understand these risks and make decisions under the guidance of doctors to ensure the health of their children.
