Before I get started, it looks as if I unintentionally deleted a blog post here. If that did not happen, then someone had it taken down for whatever reason. The blog post was about how negativity can increase the chance of a meltdown. I honestly have no desire to re-write that and didn't save a copy of that to my computer.
To the topic at hand, and this was after having a discussion with my father on the phone. I was surprised to hear him say to me on the phone that "The more I think about it, the more I believe I have Aspergers. I don't like change much and it throws me right off when it happens. Your grandfather was like that too, and I believe he had it too." So it seems that the genetic theory holds true in regards to kids having autism or Aspergers. But lets support a test or theory from a few years ago that indicates that men over the age of 30 are more likely to have kids with autism.
I cannot trace my family tree back too far right now to find out how old my great-grandfather was when he conceived with my great-grandmother and my grandfather was born. But if my mom (who suspected this the whole time), and my dad are right about the thought that my grandfather had Aspergers, then he got it from the great-grandfather. The great grandfather had to have been past the age of 30 when my grandfather was conceived, and then born.
What I know of my grandfather was that he had three kids himself, and my dad was the youngest of three. He had these kids at the age of 27, 29, and 31. Unfortunately, I never meet the first born as he passed away before I was even born. What I do know is of the second born was that she didn't have the same patterns of behaviour that my dad demonstrated. My dad was pretty obsessive in some of the things he did, and was not the type that liked to go out too often. I sensed my grandfather was the same way.
Fast-forward to my brother's birth and he was born when my mother and father were 27 and 26 respectively. He never had autism, and he was a huge extrovert and demanded to be the centre of attention. He loved spending time away from home and doing things. I was more the type to stay at home and do things and go out with friends on occasion. I had to hype myself up for the nights out with friends. I couldn't seem to last too long in situations where. I was born when my parents were 31-30 respectively. See where I am going with this.
Back in the old days, it appeared that parents were having kids at a much younger age. It seemed as if that everyone was normal thinking and there was less concern about autism compared to today. In today's world, everyone is putting their professional careers ahead of families as well. This leaves no time for baby-making it seems and the chance of autism seems to be increased if you look at the scenario I presented above. Although I would believe that genetics with age plays a bigger factor more than anything else, I am not certain that you can rule out age as a factor on its own.
I briefly dated someone who was 31 years old. I myself am 26, soon to be 27 in a couple months from now. I know when kids were brought up in a conversation, she was worried that at her age, the chances of a defect in her kids she could conceive would be higher. I did nothing to comfort her now that I think about it. I now know that my chances of having a kid with autism will likely increase the older I get. When it comes to women and potential factors, I am not certain how much of a role that will play.
It seems as if this theory posted a few years ago that I found posted in either the Washington Post or the New York Times could support that theory. Look at my family genetics and history.
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