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New study confirms paternal age autism link
Epigenetics may be key to understanding why
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Monday 26th January 2026 |
A new study provides insight into why children born to older fathers may have a higher likelihood of developing autism.
Researchers have identified age-related changes in sperm DNA methylation that cluster near genes linked to autism and brain development.
The study, originally published in Aging, examined sperm from 63 healthy men.
It focused on epigenetics - chemical marks that regulate gene activity without altering the DNA code.
The team discovered that as men age, methylation patterns shift at sites known as imprint control regions.
These regions are vital for early growth and nerve cell communication.
Unlike genetic mutations, these epigenetic changes are subtle.
The researchers suggest that rather than a single cause, these shifts contribute to a broader landscape of risk factors.
This aligns with the understanding of autism as a condition influenced by many small genetic and environmental elements acting together.
The authors emphasise that these findings represent a slight shift in risk across people, rather than predicting autism for any specific child.
However, the data highlights how paternal biology might influence neurodevelopment long before conception.
Source: Technology Networks (UK)
https://www.technologynetworks.com/genomics/news/
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