High Risk of Leukaemia for Kids of Older Parents

New research has revealed that kids born to older parents run a much higher risk of developing Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL).

Researchers said that the risk was 88% higher for children whose mothers gave birth at over 40 years of age and 30% higher for children whose mothers gave birth at 30 to 39 as compared to mothers who gave birth at aged 25 to 29.

There is thought to be a strong association between increasing age at giving birth and risk because genetic damage is more likely to be found in the eggs and sperm-forming cells.

Researchers have not yet been able to establish whether a similar pattern of age-related risk was seen with fathers or if the raised cancer risk was related to the age of both parents.

(Source: International Journal of Epidemiology)