Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Practice Exam

Advanced paternal age is associated with which condition?

1. Childhood obesity

2. Deafness

3. Schizophrenia

4. Down syndrome

The correct answer is: Schizophrenia

Advanced paternal age is associated with an increased risk of certain genetic mutations that can lead to various psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. As men age, the likelihood of mutations occurring in sperm cells rises due to the cumulative effects of environmental factors and natural DNA replication errors over time. This phenomenon has been observed in numerous studies, establishing a correlation between advanced paternal age and an elevated incidence of schizophrenia in offspring. In contrast, conditions like childhood obesity, deafness, and Down syndrome are more intricately linked to maternal age or other specific prenatal factors rather than paternal age alone. Childhood obesity arises from a combination of genetic, behavioral, and environment factors that are not primarily influenced by the age of the father. Deafness could be inherited but does not have a strong correlation with advanced paternal age. Down syndrome is typically associated with advanced maternal age due to the increased risk of chromosomal nondisjunction during meiosis, particularly with maternal age exceeding 35 years. Thus, schizophrenia stands out as a condition significantly linked to older paternal age.