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 ne

SUBMITTER: Myrskyla M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3881604 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature