Age of onset in Huntington's disease: lack of parental age effect.

In a recent publication Brackenridge and Teltscher (1975) concluded that the age of onset of Huntington's disease was in part a function of the age of the transmitting parent at the time of birth of a subsequently affected child. Their analysis suggested that the younger the parent was at the time of birth of the subsequently affected child, the later in life symptoms of disease would appear in the child. The data of Brackenridge and Teltscher have been statistically reevaluated here, and this analysis fails to support their conclusion. Consequently it would be irresponsible to counsel persons at risk for Huntington's disease to plan families early in life.