According to a latest study, chemicals and infectious microbes and not genetics might be the cause of autism. The research underlines the role of pesticides, viruses and household chemical products that can lead to neurological defects in the growing fetus.
UC Davis researchers say that the new study could be of substantial use in reaching the root cause of increasing incidence of autism. It could shift the focus away from genetic factors to chemical and infectious microbes in the environment.
According to statistics, above 3,000 new cases of autism were reported in California in 2006 whereas in 1990 only 205 cases were reported. In 1990, 6.2 in 10,000 children born in the state were diagnosed with autism by the age of five. But in 2001 42.5 in 10,000 became autistic by the age of five. The numbers have been continuously on the rise since then.
This enormous increase has made the scientists wonder as to what changes in the environment could lead to it? Dr. Bernard Weiss, a professor of environmental medicine and pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center who was not involved in the new research, said the autism rate reported in the study "seems astonishing." He also opines that environmental causes should be investigated as the possible cause of increasing cases of autism.
"There's genetics and there's environment. And genetics don't change in such short periods of time," Hertz-Picciotto, a researcher at UC Davis' M. I. N. D. Institute, a leading autism research facility.
There is also another belief that childhood vaccination might be the cause. The vaccines contain thimerosal, a mercury compound used as preservative. But there is a controversy as thimerosal had been removed from the vaccines since 1999 but the autism rates are still on the increase.
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Autism and Infectious Diseases
To what extent have sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) been ruled out as contributing causes to autism? Because of our more open sexual styles, more organisms that ordinarily would not be found in our reproductive systems now are found there. What effect do the many STDs, as treatments for these are advertised on TV, have on the developing neurological systems and brains of fetuses? Have any research studies been done, comparing today's STDs and autism to past STDs and autism?
This subject is not taboo, so if it's a contributing cause, research and openness must prevail.
vaccines harmed my child
Anonymous - if you would like to go to the VAERS site (vaccination recovery scheme) of which there is a similar one in most western countries, you will find my son's name and the fact he suffered a tremendous reaction following his initial vaccinations - by the way, perhaps you would like to read the rest of the stories there, many` of which are about children who have died immediately following vaccinations. Autism is TREATABLE.
Re vaccines
It is absolutely ridiculous that vaccines are still being touted in the media as a possible cause of autism. There is no link between ANY childhood vaccinations and autism. One poorly done study in the UK decades ago showed an association. No study that has been repeated in the same way has gotten the same results. Additionally, there is no thimersol in vaccines anymore! This is a non-issue. People need to leave this alone, because the attention that is paid to this subject takes valuable resources away from other, possibly legitimate, factors that may be related to autism.
vaccines can cause serious
vaccines can cause serious neurological impairments in some sensitive individuals... the US Government (HHS) conceded in April 2008 that vaccines contributed to Hannah Poling's autism. There have been several cases before hers. There are over 5000 vaccine injury cases where children developed "autistic symptoms" after being vaccinated. There are many, many reports of vaccine causing autistic symtpoms in the VAERS database.
The fact is vaccine adverse reactions do happen, there is variation in how the immune system response, mitochondria are sensitive to viruses and toxins and can dysfuntion causing a host of neurological problems. Some children have very sensitive immune systems and cannot tolerate the high number of vaccines on the current childhood schedule. Kids are still being injured.
statistics
as with all "pop" diseases, usually "alphabet" diseases like parental deficiency syndrome, parental hypoactivity syndrome with relative kid hyperactivity syndrome, Autism seems to be the latest label disease du jour.
the jump in stats defies logic.
Why not put an episode about autism on "Numbers" and maybe some pop number crunching will educate our pop culture.
thinerosl in vaccines
Thimerosal still remains in some vaccines, including pediatrc. It is still used in the manufacturing process as a "fixing" agent of pertussis, diptheria and tetanus toxids. This remains in the finished product although it is far less than the DTaP had when an additional 15-25 mu of mercury was added as a preservative. Additionally, it is in the flu shot, many of which are given to children as young as six months.
And the Wakefield Study has indeed been replicated, although it had nothing to do with thimerosal. Buie, and Krigsman both came to the same conclusion Wakefield did; Buie backed off and shut up so he could continue working at Mass General, Krigsman refused to back down and had to leave SUNY.
The studies you claim were like Wakefield's which disproved his were nothing of the sort. They were almost exclusively statistical manipulations of questionable datasets. Each has a significant design flaw, and when compared to each other often seem to contradict one another.
vaccines and autism
I am glad to see this Davis study is on google alert. Ridiculous that there is a link between autism and vaccines-NOT.
Obviously this anyonomous person does not know about the Poling case or Bernadine Healy's comments or the hundreds of peer reviewed studies showing a link that never hit mainstream media, or the story at Simposonwood, Ga hwere a link was found and then hidden, or the first big cluster of autism in Brick Township, NJ that was studied by the CDC and then shoved under the carpet in the late 90's. We will never leave it alone. We are here to stay until the government lies are admitted and our children are helped tand the epidemic is stopped.
M. Meleck
Re: vaccines
First of all you are totaly wrong in saying there is no link between ANY childhood vaccinations and autism. The Federal court already settled a case and is probably on the verge of settling thousands. Your decades ago association is just that - "old school", the science is in my friend you should catch up. Thimerasol continues to show up in childhood vaccinations along with alot of other nasty stuff that should not be in baby's bodies, like aluminum, et.al. The old school group think was to blame it all on genetics and what happened was what you just said all the money for research went the wrong way. I wonder if you have a child with autism.
Partly true - vaccines
Thimerisol is still used in Influenza Vaccines which most children receive. It was removed from the MMR vaccine which is what you are referring to.
Also, there's a lot who believe its not just the thimerisol, but perhaps, the multitude of shots given to a young, perhaps, susceptible immune system.
I believe if we ever have a true picture of what Autism is, we'll see that a little of everything will be to blame - environmental, vaccine AND heredity.