Over the past 30 years, all Western societies have seen women give birth at an increasingly older age. In addition, the number of cases of type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, is on the rise in these societies. However, a study of 1375 families in England including one or more children with juvenile diabetes demonstrated the relationship between the incidence of this disease and the age of the mother at childbirth.
The risk of chromosomal diseases related to maternal age was already known, and it was observed that a maternal age over 35 could increase the risk of diabetes, but the study in question reveals a hitherto unknown element: the risk of diabetes is proportional to the age of the mother. In fact, it increases by 25% for each 5-year bracket, from the time it is 20 years old. A relationship with the age of the father was also observed, but the increase in risk in this case is significantly less.
HealthPassport.net
According to L’actualité Médicale, November 1, 2000
BINGLEY PJ, DOUEK IF, ROGERS CA, GALE EAM. Influence of maternal age at delivery and birth order on risk of type 1 diabetes in childhood: Prospective population-based family study. Br Med J2000 Aug; 321: 420-4.
