Autistic Daily

Marshall Astor-Food Pornographer

Another bonus point awarded to those that subscribe to the theory that vaccines are responsible for autism.

Or, in this case, a vaccine ingredient could be the cause.

A new study is suggesting that an addictive to many vaccines, thimerosal, does indeed induce autism-like neurotoxicity.

Thimerosol was found to be significantly more toxic than other metal compounds examined in the study and produced both cell degeneration and cell death.

Source

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I woz ere on Flickr

Most issues in health and medical science aren’t black and white.

Everything from hair color to disease is determined by multiple genes and the environment and after hundreds of years of science and research, it’s still hard to pinpoint a single cause for most ailments.

Maybe that’s why Lisa Jo Rudy is neither blaming nor praising vaccines. She’s choosing to be a moderate.

“On the one hand, I acknowledge readily that the vast preponderance of science-based evidence makes it highly unlikely that there is a consistent, large-scale direct connection between vaccines and autism.”

“On the other hand… knowing that there are risks and benefits related all medical treatments, and knowing that there are children who are badly injured by vaccines overall, I believe that a very small number of autism-related claims of vaccine injury are probably for real. I suspect it is possible to create safer vaccines, to revisit the vaccine schedule with potential injuries in mind, and to discuss vaccinations intelligently with concerned parents.”

What vaccine political party do you side with?

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Andres Rueda on Flickr

Who would’ve thought a little needle could be responsible for so much commotion?

Another prominent leader has stepped down from Autism Speaks, disagreeing with the group leading towards vaccine research.

Dr. Eric London, a member of Autism Speaks’ Scientific Affairs Committee, resigned this week, citing the organization’s argument that, “there might be rare cases of ‘biologically-plausible’ vaccine involvement…are misleading and disingenuous,” and says this belief will “adversely impact,” autism research.

Autism Speaks, the largest organization for autism advocacy and research, Alison Singer, then executive vice president of communications and awareness, resigned because she disagreed with the organization investing in vaccine research.

Autism Speaks receives millions of dollars in research grants and issued a statement to Newsweek about the matter:

“Autism Speaks is currently pursuing a broad program of research, including studies on both genetic and environmental risk factors and the development of new treatments. We believe that our broad agenda will ultimately provide answers to the cause and treatment of autism spectrum disorders. We wish Dr. London well in his new endeavor.”

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Marshall Astor-Food Pornographer

Dr. Jay Gordon has blogged at the Huffington Post on the ongoing debate between vaccines and autism.

Dr. Gordon believes autism is two part-caused by both genetic and environmental triggers, and toxins in vaccines are part of those triggers.

“I agree that the huge rise in autism is real, and not just related to better diagnosis or reclassification of mental illness. Autism is most likely caused by a genetic predisposition and an environmental “trigger.”

“Studies showing that vaccines and their many constituents do not contribute to this problem are flawed, filled with specious reasoning and, for the most part funded by the pharmaceutical industry. Even articles in reputable medical journals are often written by doctors with an economic interest in continuing the vaccination program’s status quo. This does not invalidate all of these studies but it certainly makes them suspect and a poor foundation for an argument excluding vaccines from the list of environmental influences on the increase in autism in America and elsewhere.”

“Autism is triggered by many environmental, infectious and other causes. Vaccines are one of these triggers. Believe the parents!”

Continue reading Dr. Gordon’s post at Huffingtonpost.com.

via ageofautism.com

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Andreas Rueda

Should we vaccinate some children and not others, in order to really study the effects of vaccines and autism?

The days of Miligram’s men are over. Ethical psychologists and other researchers can wipe the sweat from their brows as they know innocent humans won’t go home feeling guilty about shocking their neighbors as human ethics, Institutional Review Boards, and other regulatory committees wouldn’t let a study of that nature go anywhere near approval status.

It’s also the reason why we can’t and probably never will have a study examining vaccinated versus unvaccinated populations to see if those populations go on to develop autism later in life.

Although those with an interest in autism, including parents and Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) have expressed an interest in conducting such a study, The Working Group believes it would be nearly impossible and possibly unethical.

“First, the Working Group believes that the strongest study design, a randomized clinical trial that includes a study arm receiving no vaccine or vaccine not given in accord with the current recommended schedule, is not ethical, would not passIRBreview, and cannot be done. The type of study that is being suggested would be an observational study of populations looking at natural variation in vaccination schedules including some children where vaccination is declined through parental intent. All children in the study should be recommended to receive the standard immunization schedule.”

Not only would such a study bring up the possible risk of children developing autism, it also introduces these children to being susceptible to nearly eradicated diseases and lowering immunity to these diseases in the community.

The ethics of research are never black and white. In order to determine if a cancer treatment works, the drug must be withheld from some patients, which may lead to their death.

Should we take bigger risks to uncover the truth about vaccines and autism? Or continue to make decisions based on the data we have?

via leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk

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alvi2047 on Flickr

The Vaccine Court Omnibus Autism Proceeding, a special division of the U.S Court system, ruled against 3 families who said vaccines caused their children’s autism.

Michelle Cedillo, Colten Snyder and William Yates Hazlehurs all claimed the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine which contained mercury based thimerosol had caused autism.

The families were seeking compensation through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, a no-fault system that has a $2.5-billion fund built up from a 75-¢-per-dose tax on vaccines.

via vancouversun.com

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amandabhslater on Flickr

Journalist David Kirby gave a presentation of the recent Autism One conference in Chicago, Illinois, labeled by many, as he tells it, a “freak show” and “anti-vaccine.”

Nothing could be further from the truth, Kirby reminded those in the audience, as most presentations during the conference had nothing to do with vaccines at all.

Kirby did make it clear what his views were on vaccines. You could call him anti-environmental causes that may be linked to vaccines. The environmental elements, he says, are often in vaccines, and if we start studying these causes, perhaps we can bury the nasty vaccine debate for good.

“I believe that most ASD cases have environmental triggers (probably more than one) that activate certain genetic predispositions (again, probably more than one) and create some of the symptoms that we call “autism.” I also believe that vaccines may have played a role in triggering some – though certainly not all – cases of regressive autism. Even if that number is a small minority, it seems sensible to me to study the mechanism of action, in hopes of finding clues to the development of autism in all those other children.”

“I believe that the study of environmental triggers – other than vaccines – can provide some sorely needed middle ground in what has turned out to be one of the most contentious and vitriolic issues of our day. That doesn’t mean that research into genes – or vaccines – should or would stop. But it might provide for a way forward from here.”

Kirby’s is interested in examining metals, myelin, and mitochondria. Metals destroy myelin, which coats brain and nerve cells, and also affect mytochondria dysfunction. When this occurs, according to Kirby, “all sorts of things can happen.”

Read Kirby’s entire article and view his presentation slides at the Huffington Post.

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gruntzooki on Flickr

Although many studies have found no link between vaccines and autism, many parents find the data to be less than convincing.

In an article published in the online journal PLoS Biology, author Lisa Gross thinks parents believe vaccines and autism are related because arguments for the vaccines causing autism are more emotional, thus more appealing.

She thinks parents start off by wanting to be a strong advocate for their children’s health, but unable to understand the science and data, get misled by media influences. She suggested a “playing on emotion” tactic to convince parents not to blame vaccines.

Researchers might consider taking a page out of [Jenny McCarthy's] handbook by embracing the power of stories—that is, adding a bit of drama—to show that even though scientists can’t say just what causes autism or how to prevent it, the evidence tells us not to blame vaccines.

Regardless of where you stand on the vaccine and autism debate, parents, doctors, and autism advocates can all agree on one thing: The only way to calm the emotions associated with autism and vaccines is to one day, with passion and drama, emphatically prove exactly what causes the disease.

via blog.newsweek.com

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