What you think you know about autism might be a lie

Metro.US ^ | April 17, 2017 | Sheila Dougherty

[azkathy]

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of every 68 children born in the United States has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Though all races, ethnicities and socioeconomic groups are affected by ASD, myths and misunderstandings still persist in media, schools and workplaces — that childhood vaccines are a cause has been disproved, yet the rumor refuses to die. April is World Autism Awareness month, so we spoke with Dr. Joseph Buxbaum, a molecular geneticist and neurobiologist who directs the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai Health System, to separate fact from fiction.

What is autism spectrum disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder is a complex developmental disorder affecting brain development. ASD is characterized by difficulties in social interaction, deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication and the presence of restricted or repetitive behaviors, including sensory symptoms.

The severity and presentation of symptoms vary across individuals. ASD is about four times more common among boys than girls. Due to increased public awareness, improved diagnostic tools and research in this area, more cases are identified and at younger ages. Early diagnosis is important because it can lead to earlier treatment, which research has linked to more positive outcomes.

What causes autism spectrum disorder? Vaccines are definitely not linked to it, correct?

There is strong data indicating that genetics are a predominant cause of autism. There are numerous, very compelling epidemiological studies that have clearly disproven any connection between autism and vaccines. One of the primary missions of the Seaver Autism Center is to investigate causes of autism. We take a genetics-first approach to this investigation. We expect there to be about 1,000 genes in the human genome for autism.

[American in Israel]

Doctors have killed a few more people than me, being that the 4th largest cause of death is prescribed drugs.oh wait, for some reason that is left off of the list. Must not exist then...

I suggest you study the issue a bit, vaccines are not settled science like global warming.

Isn’t it strange how many cases of SIDS coincidentally happen within 10 days of vaccination?

Good thing the vaccine companies hold the only blanket immunity from malpractice suits.

Now that’s a vaccine I can believe in.

[Drago]

How could genetics possibly explain a 45x increase in autism since 1975?

I am no “anti-vaxxer” but it seems to me that this makes more sense:

Childhood vaccinations given in 1975: 13
Childhood vaccinations given in 2013: 36

http://www.nature.com/news/2011/111102/images/Diag850.jpg
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/past.html

[American in Israel]

Note a rather common genetic anomaly that cases the heavy metal clearing pathway of the liver to operate at 10% of normal is suspected to cause hyper sensitivity to mercury and may be the cause of thimerosal poisoning linked to autism.

[cherry]

yes it is but why are there not MORE cases since almost all children get vaccinated in this county...

my adult dtr was first dx with Pervasive Development Disorder and then later when she was older with Asperger's...

but it doesn't matter what you call it....

hers is not a severe case but it does keep her from having a full life....although I think she is happy...

[cherry]

one doesn’t know what it feels like to have a disabled child, even if only mildly, unless they have one or know one closely...

[cherry]

that rocking you did was just a “tic”....I think a tic is an excellent way to relieve anxiety as long as its in a socially acceptable form...

[Yaelle]

I like your thinking and research.

I believe the bacteria difference between infants may determine why some get damaged by vaccines and some make it through. It is known that a child with even a touch of a cold virus has a far greater chance of sequelae from a vaccine or series of vaccines.

[Rusty0604]

I wish I knew the answer.

[AppyPappy]

If he has a computer/tablet or gaming system, I can’t help you.

[AppyPappy]

A “tic” is something you can’t control.

[ilovesarah2012]

https://www.fitpregnancy.com/pregnancy/labor-delivery/ask-labor-nurse/vitamin-k-shots-antibiotic-eye-treatment-hepatitis-b

[muggs]

I understand now. Thanks for responding Yaelle. I'm happy for you and for your child.

My grandson has an appointment today at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati.

So many people are confused about that autism is all about. They think it's a mental problem (I've heard that parents teach their children to act crazy to collect a check). Boy that comment is one that brings out the, I can't even describe my feeling, that that causes.

Autism is mainly a neurological condition with many mental and physical issues.

My grandson has severe GI problems. I venture to bet most of the people here claiming to have autism that they cured by their self or their parents beat it out of them have ever gone through some of the horrible problems that people with autism face. Today GS is going back to see how he responded to the botex injections he got injected into his anus a few weeks ago.

Autism isn't a picnic. It isn't a fake condition that uneducated people spout their totally uneducated, bigotted opinions about.

GI problems are only one of my physical problems people face.

Everyone talks about kids with autism. No one thinks about the adults with autism. It doesn't go away when a person reaches a certain age.

I can go on and on but have to get ready for work and don't want to say things that might get me banned.

Yaelle, none of this is directed at you. I just need to vent when I see comments like AppyPappy’s.

You know I refused to go to the hospital even though I was having terrible chest pains because there would be no one home today to care for my GS. Try thinking about what autim does to families instead of showing the your bigotry.

[unread]

“These people think we are stupid”

Will, I reckon so.... I'm not even sure if it's an emotional or physical problem..... (?)

[Boogieman]

“A few studies have shown that children who were not vaccinated at all (Amish), or who did not receive any combined vaccinations, had NO autism.”

Amish are also an isolated genetic group, and if there is a genetic link, as this article suggests, then studying isolated genetic groups is not a good methodology.

Amish also have dozens of other lifestyle differences besides vaccination that cannot be controlled for. Different diets, rates of physical activity, and rates of prescription drug use, for example.

[PA Engineer]

Thanks for the link and heads up. The relationship between neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegenerative ones is interesting related to the breakdown of the blood brain barrier (BBB).

My wife (neurologist) came to the conclusions that almost all neurodegenerative disorders, specifically iron related deposition (Iron misregulation in the brain: a primary cause of neurodegenerative disorders) are metabolic and not inherent to the brain itself. These disorders are complex, however all share some type of insulin dysregulation effecting the BBB.

Almost all of the disorders respond well to an insulin sparing (ketogenic) diet. This is the alternative pathway for cellular energy outside of the pyruvate cycle (carnitine shuttle). We have also been looking at Pantethine (as many in Europe are studying) to treat the breakdown of the BBB and help with removal of iron (Pantethine breaks down into Pantothenate and cysteamine).

The biggest unknown is still the role of gut microbiome in these metabolic disorders.

My opinion is that they are all linked and the majority of our modern disease are related to this, secondary to an inflammatory diet.

Thanks again for the link.

[Yaelle]

I do hope you get your chest pains looked into. Of course it may just be stress, but do look into it.

Your poor grandson. I know it would help to change his diet and focus on feeding the right gut bugs and replenishing his bacteria population. But I also know that changing the diet of someone with autism is like getting two broomsticks from the wicked witch. Not going to happen. My son had all those issues too, but would only eat what he would only eat. Now he is much more mature about eating (about making some nutritional decisions) and can adjust his diet somewhat.

Living with a child / teen / adult with autism is very, very difficult. And it is as real a brain dysfunction as Down Syndrome or Alzheimer’s. It’s physical. And there are no medications and also no money other than educational services that they need to fit in to the public schools.

Me, I never let him spend one minute in a public school so we didn’t get any money at all. He was homeschooled from 4th through 12th grade.

[azkathy]

I have a question for you, how does your wife feel about immunizations?

My 14 month old grandson died 12/6/2016. I have been searching for answers/help. The Medical Examiner ruled his death as undetermined. When I spoke with him he said that Larry’s death was a classic case of SIDS but he wouldn’t be listed that way because he was 14 months old instead of 12 months old.

I believe his death was caused by the Dtap shot he got at his well child visit on 9-26-2016. Proving it is difficult to say the least. I have learned that white blood cells transfer aluminum to the body and brain and that they live for approximately 2-3 months. So it is possible for it to take a couple of months to get past the Blood Brain Barrier.

I watched one of the best presentations on vaccine safety and the problems associated with vaccines linked here, https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_3639963985&feature=iv&src_vid=Q8SCFOq3qYo&v=F8uradn98Ls

The link is to a panel of experts with Q & A about vaccines. Dr. Toni Bark is one of my favorite speakers. She is a Pediatrician and very well educated. The panel also includes a former Merck Pharmaceutical rep, Dr. Andrew Wakefield and several others.

[Missouri gal]

I have no objection to pursuing all avenues of epidemiology. However, Amish are not the only exceptions for autism. There is a physician-a pediatrician-who refuses to give MMR combined vaccine, or any other combined vaccine. He only gives these separately for children, and has seen little or no autism among his child patients. So, I'm just saying the meme that vaccines are NOT causative has not been completely ruled out.

[Boogieman]

“There is a physician-a pediatrician-who refuses to give MMR combined vaccine, or any other combined vaccine. He only gives these separately for children, and has seen little or no autism among his child patients.”

An anecdote about an insufficient sample size in an uncontrolled environment isn’t really evidence of anything.

[MayflowerMadam]

“There is strong data indicating that genetics are a predominant cause of autism.”

I know nothing about the science relating to autism, but the genetics theory seems “off” to me. If it’s genetic, why was it uncommon, rare, or even nonexistent a few decades ago? Now it’s everywhere. It seems that there is another reason. Maybe environmental. Maybe it’s because babies and mothers have less interaction now than they used to, so proper bonding isn’t accomplished. (Mothers can’t even hold babies on their laps in a car, and cars can be frightening to babies.) Or... vaccinations.

“Genetics” makes no sense (to me).