The Influence of Old Male Fertility on Genetic Diseases
With the development of modern society, more and more men choose to greet their father when they are old. However, it is a controversial topic whether there is a relationship between male elderly childbearing and genetic diseases. In this paper, we will elaborate the possible influence of male elderly childbearing on genetic diseases from four aspects.
1. Increased genetic mutation rate
The aging of male fertility is usually related to the decline of sperm quality. With the increase of age, the quality of male sperm will decline, and the probability of DNA damage and mutation in sperm will increase. The study found that the aging of men is associated with the increased risk of congenital abnormalities, chromosome abnormalities and polygenic genetic diseases.
For example, research from the University College London Medical Center shows that children with fathers over 35 years old are twice as likely to suffer from autism as children with young fathers. This is because old men will increase the DNA damage and mutation rate in sperm, which will be passed on to the next generation during fertilization, thus increasing the risk of autism and other genetic diseases.
In addition, older men are also associated with chromosomal abnormalities in sperm. For example, children whose fathers are over 50 years old have a much higher risk of Down syndrome than children with younger fathers. This is because the increase in age leads to an increase in the probability of chromosomal abnormalities in sperm, which can then be passed on to the next generation.
2. Increased risk of disease transmission
Older male births also increase the risk of genetic diseases being passed on to the next generation. Some common monogenic genetic diseases, such as polycystic kidney disease and cystic fibrosis, are related to the father's age. These diseases are usually inherited by parents' mutated genes, and the old age of men increases the probability of accumulation of mutated genes.
Research shows that children with fathers over 40 years old are 10 times more likely to suffer from polycystic kidney disease than children with young fathers. This may be because the mutant gene in the sperm is more likely to cause polycystic kidney disease when men are old. Similarly, older men are associated with an increased risk of diseases such as cystic fibrosis.
3. Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
Older male births may also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in the next generation. Research shows that children whose fathers are over 40 years old have a significantly higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases.
Older men may have abnormal cardiovascular system in the next generation, which is related to the increased probability of sperm DNA damage and mutation. The abnormality of cardiovascular system may be caused by the accumulation of mutant genes and the genetic variation caused by DNA damage in sperm.
4. Interaction between environmental factors and genetic diseases
In addition to the fact that male aging itself may lead to an increase in the risk of genetic diseases, the interaction between environmental factors and genetic diseases cannot be ignored. Age increase may be related to the father's lifestyle and increased environmental exposure, further increasing the risk of genetic diseases.
For example, the study found that the father of an elderly man who drinks alcohol may increase the risk of certain genetic diseases in the next generation. This may be because the combination of drinking and age leads to the accumulation of mutant genes, which increases the risk of genetic diseases.
summary
To sum up, there is a certain relationship between male elderly fertility and genetic diseases. The elderly male fertility increases the probability of DNA damage and mutation in sperm, thus increasing the risk of transmission of genetic diseases. In addition, older men may also increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in the next generation. In addition to the influence of age itself, the interaction between environmental factors and genetic diseases is also a factor to be considered. Therefore, men should be aware of the risks of genetic diseases and seek professional medical advice if possible when considering elderly childbearing.
