Age at Time of Pregnancy
Maternal age is one of the only proven causes behind an increased risk for Down syndrome. According to some researchers, this is because a woman has a limited supply of eggs. As the woman ages, so do the eggs, and they may deteriorate over time. Medical researchers predict that the rate of Down syndrome will probably increase in the next few years, as more and more women want to give birth to children in their later life. Although some of Down syndrome’s instances are caused by the father, the father’s age is not a factor driving the condition.