Scientists claim older father link to schizophrenia

CHILDREN who have fathers over the age of 30 are more likely to suffer schizophrenia in later life, research claimed yesterday.

Researchers in Sweden who followed more than 700,000 people concluded that in 15.5% of cases of schizophrenia, the illness could be due to the patient having a father over the age of 30.

Figures for England and Wales show the average age of fathers has increased from 29.2 in 1980 to 32.1 in 2002.