Maternal Age and Offspring Adult Health: Evidence From the Health and Retirement Study

Abstract

Advanced maternal age is associated with negative offspring health outcomes. This interpretation often relies on physiological processes related to aging, such as decreasing oocyte quality. We use a large, population-based sample of American adults to analyze how selection and lifespan overlap between generations influence the maternal age–offspring adult health association. We find that offspring born to mothers younger than age 25 or older than 35 have worse outcomes with respect to mortality, self-rated health, height, obesity, and the number of diagnosed conditions than those born to mothers aged 25–34. Controls for maternal education and age at which the child lost the mother eliminate the effect for advanced maternal age up to age 45. The association between young maternal age and negative offspring outcomes is robust to these controls. Our findings suggest that the advanced maternal age–offspring adult health association reflects selection and factors related to lifespan overlap. These may include shared frailty or parental investment but are not directly related to the physiological health of the mother during conception, fetal development, or birth. The results for young maternal age add to the evidence suggesting that children born to young mothers might be better off if the parents waited a few years.

Effects of aging on the male reproductive system

“…Recent studies on reproduction propose that men can maintain their fertility until older ages. Although paternal age does not affect fecundity directly as an independent factor, it may be significant in combination with the maternal age [145]. On the other hand, recent studies have indicated that advanced paternal age has a significant influence on the risk of certain diseases and correlates with a number of complications in the offspring.…”

Early-life reproduction is associated with increased mortality risk but enhanced lifetime fitness in pre-industrial humans

“…Although it is possible that improved nutrition and medical care have attenuated the costs of reproduction in modern society, costs may still be apparent. For example, even though most babies now survive to adulthood in industrialized countries, maternal age may still affect development, leading to more subtle or longer-term effects on offspring health [52]. This effect could be exacerbated by earlier investment in reproduction and ultimately, in modern societies, delaying the onset of reproduction to later ages is associated with increased likelihood of pregnancy failure [53].…”

Temporary and lasting effects of childhood deprivation on male stature. Late adolescent stature and catch-up growth in Woerden (The Netherlands) in the first half of the nineteenth century

“…The age of the mother at the birth of the recruit may be an indication of possible health problems. The literature suggests that children born to either young (in our model before the age of 22) or old mothers (40 and older) may suffer from lasting effects on health (Myrskylä & fenelon, 2012). finally, we look at the sex composition of households.…”