2006年VOA标准英语-Study: Older Fathers More Likely to Have Autist

By Carol Pearson
Washington, DC
13 September 2006
 
watch Older Father report

Studies show older mothers are more likely to have children with Down Syndrome¹ and other abnormalities.  Now new research suggests children of older fathers are also at risk for developmental disorders³. 

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Researchers found older men are more likely than younger men to father autistic children. Autism is a series of disorders that can range from mild to severe.  It affects thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others.

Professor Margaret Pericak-Vance of Duke University says, "This is the first study that links advanced paternal⁴ age with an increase in autism risk."

 
Dr. Margaret Pericak-Vance 
  
The overall risk for autism is said to be small .  But the researchers found that as men age, their chances of fathering autistic children increase.  For men in their 50s, their chance of fathering an autistic child is nine times the risk of men in their teens and 20s.

Different studies link older fathers with a child's increased risk of schizophrenia and other genetic⁵ conditions.  Dr. Harry⁶ Ostrer of New York University feels, "The take-home message to me from this study is that it's best not to wait to have children.  Children of older fathers may be at risk for a whole host of different conditions." 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports a surge in the number of children diagnosed Autism Spectrum⁷ Disorder². This could be due to changes in how autism is diagnosed, or it could be more children are being born with the disorder.

What is known is that as men age, their ability to repair faulty DNA⁸ in sperm⁹ cells decreases.

Whatever the answer, the new study suggests that the age of the father is an important factor in determining autism and other genetic disorders.

1 syndrome   

n.综合病症；并存特性

参考例句：

• The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。
• Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。

2 disorder   

n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调

参考例句：

• When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后，他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
• It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。

3 disorders   

n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调

参考例句：

• Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 paternal   

adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的

参考例句：

• I was brought up by my paternal aunt.我是姑姑扶养大的。
• My father wrote me a letter full of his paternal love for me.我父亲给我写了一封充满父爱的信。

5 genetic   

adj.遗传的，遗传学的

参考例句：

• It's very difficult to treat genetic diseases.遗传性疾病治疗起来很困难。
• Each daughter cell can receive a full complement of the genetic information.每个子细胞可以收到遗传信息的一个完全补偿物。

6 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

7 spectrum   

n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列

参考例句：

• This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。
• We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

8 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

9 sperm   

n.精子，精液

参考例句：

• Only one sperm fertilises an egg.只有一个精子使卵子受精。
• In human reproduction,one female egg is usually fertilized by one sperm.在人体生殖过程中，一个精子使一个卵子受精。