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The maternal-age and birth-order effects on the risk of mongolism and leukemia were determined for children born in Michigan during 1950–64. There was a striking association between maternal age and mongolism, but birth order did not independently affect the risk of mongolism. On the other hand, both maternal age and birth order independently affected the risk of death from leukemia. Risk of death from leukemia decreased with advancing birth order and increased with advancing maternal age. Except for the older maternal age groups, these trends for leukemia are in contrast to the effects of maternal age and birth order on death due to all causes. This contrast suggests maternal age and birth order may be closely associated with the etiological agents of childhood leukemia.
Stark et al. (Tue,) studied this question.