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International Journal of Epidemiology Jun 2017Studies on advanced maternal age-defined here as age 35 or older-and children's cognitive ability report mixed evidence. Previous studies have not analysed how the time... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
BACKGROUND
Studies on advanced maternal age-defined here as age 35 or older-and children's cognitive ability report mixed evidence. Previous studies have not analysed how the time period considered in existing studies influences the association.
METHODS
We analysed trends in the association between maternal age and cognitive ability using data from the 1958 National Child Development Study ( n = 10 969), the 1970 British Cohort Study ( n = 9362) and the 2000-2002 Millennium Cohort Study ( n = 11 600). The dependent variable measures cognitive ability at age 10/11 years. Cognitive scores were standardised to a mean of zero and a standard deviation of one.
RESULTS
For the 1958-70 cohort studies, maternal ages 35 -39 were negatively associated with children's cognitive ability compared with maternal ages 25-29 (1958 cohort β = -0.06 standard deviations (SD) 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.13, -0.00; 1970 cohort β = -0.12 SD 95% CI: -0.20, -0.03). By contrast, for the 2000-2002 cohort study maternal ages 35-39 were positively associated with cognitive ability (β = 0.16 SD 95% CI: 0.09, 0.23). For maternal ages 40+, the pattern was qualitatively similar. These cross-cohort differences were explained by the fact that in the earlier cohorts advanced maternal age was associated with high parity, whereas in the 2000-2002 cohort it was associated with socioeconomically advantaged family background.
CONCLUSIONS
The association between advanced maternal age and children's cognitive ability changed from negative in the 1958 and 1970 cohorts to positive in the 2000-2002 cohort because of changing parental characteristics. The time period considered can constitute an important factor in determining the association between maternal age and cognitive ability.
Topics: Adult; Child; Child Development; Cognition; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans; Intelligence; Linear Models; Male; Maternal Age; Pregnancy; United Kingdom
PubMed: 28177512
DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyw354 -
Proceedings of the National Academy of... Jan 2016Increased maternal age at reproduction is often associated with decreased offspring performance in numerous species of plants and animals (including humans). Current...
Increased maternal age at reproduction is often associated with decreased offspring performance in numerous species of plants and animals (including humans). Current evolutionary theory considers such maternal effect senescence as part of a unified process of reproductive senescence, which is under identical age-specific selective pressures to fertility. We offer a novel theoretical perspective by combining William Hamilton's evolutionary model for aging with a quantitative genetic model of indirect genetic effects. We demonstrate that fertility and maternal effect senescence are likely to experience different patterns of age-specific selection and thus can evolve to take divergent forms. Applied to neonatal survival, we find that selection for maternal effects is the product of age-specific fertility and Hamilton's age-specific force of selection for fertility. Population genetic models show that senescence for these maternal effects can evolve in the absence of reproductive or actuarial senescence; this implies that maternal effect aging is a fundamentally distinct demographic manifestation of the evolution of aging. However, brief periods of increasingly beneficial maternal effects can evolve when fertility increases with age faster than cumulative survival declines. This is most likely to occur early in life. Our integration of theory provides a general framework with which to model, measure, and compare the evolutionary determinants of the social manifestations of aging. Extension of our maternal effects model to other ecological and social contexts could provide important insights into the drivers of the astonishing diversity of lifespans and aging patterns observed among species.
Topics: Aging; Animals; Biological Evolution; Female; Humans; Maternal Age; Mutation; Selection, Genetic
PubMed: 26715745
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1520494113 -
Proceedings. Biological Sciences Oct 2019Offspring produced by older parents often have reduced longevity, termed the Lansing effect. Because adults usually have similar-aged mates, it is difficult to separate...
Offspring produced by older parents often have reduced longevity, termed the Lansing effect. Because adults usually have similar-aged mates, it is difficult to separate effects of maternal and paternal age, and environmental circumstances are also likely to influence offspring outcomes. The mechanisms underlying the Lansing effect are poorly understood. Variation in telomere length and loss, particularly in early life, is linked to longevity in many vertebrates, and therefore changes in offspring telomere dynamics could be very important in this context. We examined the effect of maternal age and environment on offspring telomere length in zebra finches. We kept mothers under either control (ad libitum food) or more challenging (unpredictable food) circumstances and experimentally minimized paternal age and mate choice effects. Irrespective of the maternal environment, there was a substantial negative effect of maternal age on offspring telomere length, evident in longitudinal and cross-sectional comparisons (average of 39% shorter). Furthermore, in young mothers, sons reared by challenged mothers had significantly shorter telomere lengths than sons reared by control mothers. This effect disappeared when the mothers were old, and was absent in daughters. These findings highlight the importance of telomere dynamics as inter-generational mediators of the evolutionary processes determining optimal age-specific reproductive effort and sex allocation.
Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Finches; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Maternal Age; Songbirds; Stress, Physiological; Telomere
PubMed: 31575358
DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1845 -
Sleep Health Apr 2021Pregnant patients are vulnerable to both depression and sleep-disordered breathing, and both convey risks for maternal and fetal outcomes. Previous research has...
OBJECTIVE
Pregnant patients are vulnerable to both depression and sleep-disordered breathing, and both convey risks for maternal and fetal outcomes. Previous research has indicated that sleep-disordered breathing is associated with depression, but further information related to the risk of depression based on timing of onset of snoring is needed.
DESIGN
When presenting to clinic for their initial prenatal visit, pregnant patients completed a packet of questionnaires, which included measures related to depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) and snoring. Habitual snoring was defined as snoring 3 or more nights per week.
RESULTS
In total, 1367 women were included and 34.1% reported habitual snoring, either chronic (24.4%) or pregnancy-onset (9.8%), with increased frequency of pregnancy-onset habitual snoring in later stages of pregnancy. Unadjusted analyses suggested increased odds of depressive symptoms in chronic and pregnancy-onset habitual snoring groups relative to nonsnorers (odds ratio [OR]: 2.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39, 2.92, P < .01; OR: 2.50, 95% CI: 1.54, 4.07, P < .01, respectively). These findings were maintained after adjusting for maternal age, marital status, gestational age, and parity (chronic habitual snoring OR: 1.69, 95% CI: 1.14, 2.53, P < .01; pregnancy-onset habitual snoring OR: 2.79, 95% CI: 1.35, 5.78, P < .01).
CONCLUSIONS
Maternal snoring may be a risk factor for prenatal depressive symptoms. Pregnancy-onset habitual snoring confers additional risk for depression compared to not snoring during pregnancy.
Topics: Depression; Female; Humans; Maternal Age; Pregnancy; Pregnant Women; Sleep Apnea Syndromes; Snoring
PubMed: 33582047
DOI: 10.1016/j.sleh.2020.12.007 -
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Jun 2022Due to changes in family policy in China, pregnancy at advanced age (30 years old or above) is prevalent. Advanced maternal age is known to be related to a variety of...
BACKGROUND
Due to changes in family policy in China, pregnancy at advanced age (30 years old or above) is prevalent. Advanced maternal age is known to be related to a variety of negative health outcomes, including antenatal depression. Family relationship quality might be an important factor for antenatal depressive symptoms among Chinese women with advanced maternal age. However, the underlying mechanisms in which family relationship quality can affect antenatal depressive symptoms among this population and how positive psychological capital (PsyCap) intervenes in this impact are not clear.
OBJECTIVES
To describe the prevalence and demographic characteristics of antenatal depressive symptoms among Chinese pregnant women with advanced maternal age, and to explore the mediation effect of PsyCap in the associations between family relationship quality and antenatal depressive symptoms.
METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional survey at a tertiary hospital in China. A total of 192 women with maternal age of 30 years or older completed the questionnaires. Data on antenatal depressive symptoms, PsyCap, family relationship quality and demographic characteristics were collected. The multiple mediation models in SPSS's PROCESS macro were used to test whether PsyCap mediated the relationship between family relationship quality and antenatal depressive symptoms.
RESULTS
Approximately 28.6% of participants had antenatal depressive symptoms and 6.8% reported poor family relationship quality. Participants with higher education (p = .02) and better family relationship quality (p = .00) were less likely to have antenatal depressive symptoms. PsyCap collectively (β = 1.14, p < .05), or more specifically resilience (β = 0.61, p < .05) significantly mediated the relationship between poor family relationship quality and antenatal depressive symptoms.
DISCUSSION
The relationship between family relationship quality and antenatal depressive symptoms can be mediated by PsyCap collectively or via resilience specifically. It is important to screen antenatal depressive symptoms among pregnant women with advanced age, especially those who have poor family relationship quality. Counseling and psychotherapy initiatives for resilience-enhancing training for pregnant women at advanced age may provide a promising target to break the link between poor family relationship quality and antenatal depressive symptoms.
Topics: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Depression; Depressive Disorder; Family Relations; Female; Humans; Maternal Age; Pregnancy
PubMed: 35701762
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04811-y -
Medecine Sciences : M/S 2004Maternal ageing is the only etiological factor unequivocally associated with the occurrence of aneuploid conceptuses. Molecular studies of trisomies have demonstrated... (Review)
Review
Maternal ageing is the only etiological factor unequivocally associated with the occurrence of aneuploid conceptuses. Molecular studies of trisomies have demonstrated that the pattern of recombinaison was an important predisposing factor to meiotic nondisjunction. To complete this data, a large chromosomal study has been undertaken on 1,397 unfertilised human oocytes recovered from women participating in in vitro fertilization programmes. Conventional whole chromosome nondisjunction and premature chromatid separation were the major types of numerical abnormalities observed. A positive relationship was found between maternal age and these two types of nondisjunction, but the most significant correlation was observed with chromatid separation resulting in the presence of free chromatid in metaphase II oocyte. These data revealed that chromatid separation was an essential factor in the age-dependent occurrence of aneuploidy. This finding provided new insights into the mechanism of nondisjunction in female meiosis since disturbance in molecular chromatid cohesion by cohesins might be a causal mechanism predisposing to nondisjunction and involved in the maternal age effect.
Topics: Adult; Chromatids; Chromosome Aberrations; Cytogenetic Analysis; Female; Humans; Maternal Age; Middle Aged; Oocytes
PubMed: 15329821
DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2004206-7691 -
Menopause (New York, N.Y.) Jan 2015This study investigated the association between maternal age at birth of last child and likelihood of survival to advanced age.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the association between maternal age at birth of last child and likelihood of survival to advanced age.
METHODS
This was a nested case-control study using Long Life Family Study data. Three hundred eleven women who survived past the oldest 5th percentile of survival (according to birth cohort-matched life tables) were identified as cases, and 151 women who died at ages younger than the top 5th percentile of survival were identified as controls. A Bayesian mixed-effect logistic regression model was used to estimate the association between maternal age at birth of last child and exceptional longevity among these 462 women.
RESULTS
We found a significant association for older maternal age, whereby women who had their last child beyond age 33 years had twice the odds for survival to the top 5th percentile of survival for their birth cohorts compared with women who had their last child by age 29 years (age between 33 and 37 y: odds ratio, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.13 to 3.92; older age: odds ratio, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.03 to 3.68).
CONCLUSIONS
This study supports findings from other studies demonstrating a positive association between older maternal age and greater odds for surviving to an unusually old age.
Topics: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Denmark; Educational Status; Female; Humans; Longevity; Longitudinal Studies; Maternal Age; Odds Ratio; Pregnancy; Smoking; United States
PubMed: 24977462
DOI: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000276 -
Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica... Apr 2005
Topics: Adult; Case-Control Studies; Female; Humans; Hypospadias; Infant, Newborn; Male; Maternal Age; Pregnancy; Risk Factors
PubMed: 15762979
DOI: 10.1111/j.0001-6349.2005.00582.x -
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology :... Aug 2021To compare longitudinal maternal hemodynamic changes throughout gestation between different age groups.
OBJECTIVE
To compare longitudinal maternal hemodynamic changes throughout gestation between different age groups.
METHODS
This was a prospective longitudinal study assessing maternal hemodynamics using a bioreactance technique at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6, 19 + 0 to 24 + 0, 30 + 0 to 34 + 0 and 35 + 0 to 37 + 0 weeks' gestation. Women were divided into four groups according to maternal age at the first visit at 11 + 0 to 13 + 6 weeks: Group 1, < 25.0 years; Group 2, 25.0-30.0 years; Group 3, 30.1-34.9 years; and Group 4, ≥ 35.0 years. A multilevel linear mixed-effects model was performed to compare the repeat measurements of hemodynamic variables, correcting for demographics, medical and obstetric history, pregnancy complications, maternal age and gestational-age window.
RESULTS
The study population included 254 women in Group 1, 442 in Group 2, 618 in Group 3 and 475 in Group 4. Younger women (Group 1) had the highest cardiac output (CO) and lowest peripheral vascular resistance (PVR), and older women (Group 4) had the lowest CO and highest PVR throughout pregnancy. The higher CO seen in younger women was achieved through an increase in heart rate alone and not with a concomitant rise in stroke volume. Although the youngest age group demonstrated an apparently more favorable hemodynamic profile, it had the highest incidence of a small-for-gestational-age neonate. There was no significant difference between the groups in the incidence of pre-eclampsia.
CONCLUSION
Age-specific differences in maternal hemodynamic adaptation do not explain the differences in the incidence of a small-for-gestational-age neonate between age groups. © 2021 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Topics: Adaptation, Physiological; Adult; Female; Hemodynamics; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Maternal Age; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies; Young Adult
PubMed: 33592675
DOI: 10.1002/uog.23614 -
Revista de La Facultad de Ciencias... Mar 2024A progressive increase in the age of women at first pregnancy is observed, a situation that has been associated with a greater risk of adverse maternal and perinatal...
INTRODUCTION
A progressive increase in the age of women at first pregnancy is observed, a situation that has been associated with a greater risk of adverse maternal and perinatal effects.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and the maternal and perinatal outcomes of nulliparas of 40 years and older and compare them with those of nulliparas under 40.
STUDY DESIGN
This was a retrospective cohort analysis of a database of pregnancy population who had attended their deliveries in a private university hospital.
RESULTS
An association was observed between maternal age ≥ 40 with the maternal compound adverse outcome (OR 1,3; 95% CI: 1,1-1,6), gestational diabetes (OR 3,6; 95% CI: 1,80-3,7), hypertensive disorders/preeclampsia (OR 2,2; 95% CI: 1,6-3,1) and postpartum hemorrhage (4,7; 95% CI: 1,2-16,3), with advanced maternal age persisting as an independent risk factor for the maternal compound adverse outcome (OR 1,3; 95% CI: 1,1 -1,6) and the perinatal compound adverse outcome (OR 1,40; 95% CI: 1,2-1,7) in the multivariate analysis. A higher rate of preterm birth was observed in the group of older nulliparas (OR 1,6; 95% CI: 1,3-2,0) with a higher requirement for admission to NICU for their newborns (OR 1,3; 95% CI: 1,0-1,8).
CONCLUSIONS
Women with advanced maternal age constitute a high-risk population, whose attention and follow-up would require a differential approach aiming to improve maternal and perinatal outcomes.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Maternal Age; Risk Factors; Family; Retrospective Studies
PubMed: 38537099
DOI: 10.31053/1853.0605.v81.n1.41447