26
What sets the study apart is its rare inclusion of paternal data.
“We often overlook fathers in health research,” Miliku says. “But thanks to thousands of Canadian men who took part in this study more than a decade ago – completing surveys, physical tests and providing blood samples – we’re now uncovering just how important their contribution truly is.”
The mechanisms behind the link are still being explored.
“There are likely multiple layers at play – genetics, epigenetics and environment,” says Miliku. “We’re investigating whether poor diet and excess weight in men can pass on risk through epigenetic changes in sperm and how shared behaviours in the home may also contribute.”
Good start, I suppose. It seems obvious that parents with unhealthy habits and possibly unhealthy genetics would pass that on to their children, but it seems that we're actually so short on data that this study is a step forward to figure out the 'why' and 'how' of it.