Advanced maternal age during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of which condition?

Advanced maternal age during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of which condition?

• A. Turner syndrome
• B. Down syndrome
• C. Klinefelter syndrome
• D. Cystic fibrosis

Answer: (B)

Advanced maternal age increases the chance that the eggs undergo nondisjunction during cell division, leading to aneuploidies. When an extra chromosome 21 is present in the fertilized egg, the result is Down syndrome. This is the classic chromosomal abnormality associated with older maternal age, and it is the most common chromosomal condition seen in live births. Other conditions like Turner syndrome (monosomy X) and Klinefelter syndrome (XXY) involve sex chromosomes and occur without a strong link to maternal age. Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder tied to carrier status in both parents, not to maternal age.

Advanced maternal age increases the chance that the eggs undergo nondisjunction during cell division, leading to aneuploidies. When an extra chromosome 21 is present in the fertilized egg, the result is Down syndrome. This is the classic chromosomal abnormality associated with older maternal age, and it is the most common chromosomal condition seen in live births. Other conditions like Turner syndrome (monosomy X) and Klinefelter syndrome (XXY) involve sex chromosomes and occur without a strong link to maternal age. Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder tied to carrier status in both parents, not to maternal age.