The Effect of Aging Fertility on Paternal Genes
With the development of society and the improvement of medical care, more and more women choose to postpone pregnancy, which leads to the widespread phenomenon of elderly childbearing. However, old age fertility also has a series of effects on paternal genes, which are profound and complex from the perspective of genetics.
1. Risk of genetic diseases
Paternal genes are one of the important factors that determine the genetic characteristics of children. The quality and quantity of spermatozoa of elderly fertile men will gradually decline, thus increasing the risk of genetic diseases. Studies have shown that older fathers are more likely to transmit genetic variations including autism, Down syndrome and genetic diseases to the next generation.
In addition, the decline in sperm quality of elderly fathers will also lead to an increase in DNA damage, which will have a negative impact on the health of children. Therefore, when giving birth at an advanced age, fathers should pay special attention to their own health conditions, and regularly carry out physical examination and appropriate life adjustment to reduce the risk of genetic diseases.
A study conducted by a Guangzhou urological hospital found that children of older fathers were twice as likely to suffer from leukemia as young fathers. This study again emphasized the impact of older childbearing on paternal genes.
2. Effects of nervous system development
Paternal genes play an important role in the development of children's nervous system. However, the genetic material of the elderly father may change abnormally, affecting the normal development of the child's nervous system. Research shows that older children with fathers are more likely to suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism and other neurological development related diseases.
Specifically, the degree of DNA methylation in the sperm of the elderly father may change, resulting in abnormal gene expression. This change may be related to the development of children's nervous system function, making children more prone to nervous system diseases. Therefore, the elderly father who gives birth should keep healthy living habits in life and reduce the risk of hereditary nervous system diseases.
3. Genetic tendency of senile diseases
With the inheritance of paternal genes, children who have fathers at an advanced age are more likely to suffer from senile diseases. The study found that the children of elderly fathers have a relatively high risk of suffering from elderly diseases similar to their fathers, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, etc.
Therefore, fathers who have given birth at an advanced age should pay attention to their own health status, avoid bad living habits, and conduct regular physical examination and reasonable adjustment of diet and exercise to reduce the occurrence of senile diseases.
4. Increase of difference between father and son
Older childbearing will lead to an increase in the difference between father and son generations, which will affect children's quality of life and family relations. Children of older fathers may face more care and economic pressure in the process of growing up, and also lack common interests and understanding due to the age difference of fathers.
In addition, the increase in the difference between father and son may also lead to the physical and mental health problems of children, such as emotional instability and low self-esteem of children. Therefore, older fathers who have children need to pay more attention and time in the process of childcare, and strengthen communication and understanding with children.
To sum up, aging fertility has a significant impact on paternal genes. From the perspective of the risk of genetic diseases, the impact of nervous system development, the genetic tendency of senile diseases, and the increase of the difference between father and son generations, we should recognize the important impact of elderly childbearing on paternal genes, and comprehensively consider multiple factors when deciding fertility, so as to reduce the risk of genetic diseases and other related problems. It is very important for fathers who have given birth at an advanced age to maintain a healthy lifestyle and actively participate in child rearing.
