More years of education also correlated with fatherhood happening at an older age during the 44-year study period. Northeastern and Western states showed the highest paternal ages on average, the study found. "Another possible implication is a higher risk of certain diseases which are more prevalent among older fathers." One historical study found that the average paternal age in 18th- and 19th-century Sweden was 34.37 years, she wrote. Speculating about underlying causes for the older ages of dads is difficult, she added, given that the new study does not include information about whether these older average ages resulted from delaying fatherhood or extending it.

Source: CNN August 30, 2017 16:07 UTC