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Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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Autism and Mother's Age
QUESTION
Dear Dr. Needlman,
Are older mothers more likely to have children with autism than younger mothers, as is the case with Down syndrome?

— Worried Mom

ANSWER
August 23, 2001
Dear Worried Mom,
No, I don't believe that autism has any connection with mother's age, or father's. Autism does tend to run in families, so that if one child has autism the chances are somewhat greater that a later child will too. If there are other relatives with autism (aunts, uncles, or second cousins, for example), there may also be a slightly increased chance of autism in a child. But the risk is still very, very small. Read more in the Autism section of our site.

— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P.

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