Children of mothers over 40 'are healthier and more intelligent

They might be harder to catch – and no doubt leave their mothers more exhausted – but children born to mums over 40 are healthier and brighter than those of younger women, The Daily Mail reports.

The offspring of older women are less likely to have accidents or need hospital care and more likely to have been vaccinated early, a study found.

They will also develop a broader vocabulary from a young age and achieve higher scores in IQ tests in a range of measures up to the age of five.

The research, to be presented today at The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health conference in Glasgow, is a rare piece of good news for the rising number of women who are delaying motherhood.

Previous studies have highlighted the growing infertility rates for older women and the greater risk of them developing diabetes and pre-eclampsia.

But the latest research appears to show gains for older mothers once they have given birth, possibly due to their greater experience and maturity.

The number of mothers who gave birth over the age of 40 increased from 15,000 in 2000 to 27,000 in 2010.

Children of older mothers were less likely to be in accidents or need hospital admission, and were no more at risk of obesity.
The research also checked a number of outcomes linked to parenting skills, including naming vocabulary, picture and shapes identification and developmental IQ using established British assessment scales.

The findings showed greater ability among children born to older mothers once social class was taken into account.
Previous research found three times more children born to older mothers got five GCSEs compared with those born to younger women.