Why in 1980, a mean age of 30.6 was consider old for a new mother and 34 considered very old for a new dad?

Question

What happened to change our perceptions of old?

This was the mean age of parents of autistic children in a town in Sweden. The mean age of mothers of general population was 26 and the fathers age was much younger than 34 but not known.

Answer 1

I never thought those ages were considered old for new parents. It probably came about because people married younger and had children earlier. Most people were grandparents in their early 40's. Times are changing and a lot of people are just starting families at an older age.

Answer 2

Paul McCartney and David Letterman fathering children. Now they really are old!