Posted on 01/07/2008 4:23:06 PM PST by shrinkermd
Researchers at the California Department of Public Health said autism rates in that state have continued to rise despite the removal of the mercury-containing preservative thimerosal from most childhood vaccines.
The research, which is being published in this month's Archives of General Psychiatry, looked at autism rates of children ages 3 to 12 from 1995 through March 2007 who had active cases with the department, or those who were receiving services from the state for an autism disorder.
In 1999 federal health officials recommended the elimination of thimerosal from children's vaccines on concerns about a possible link to rising autism rates seen in the 1990s.
In 2004, the Institute of Medicine concluded there wasn't a relationship between the mercury-containing vaccines and autism, but recommended researchers continue looking at autism rates as thimerosal exposure dropped.
Autism is characterized as impairments in social interaction, communication, and unusual behavior and interests. The cause of the disorder isn't known, and there is no cure, although medication and therapy can improve symptoms. Other states besides California have also reported an increase in autism rates.
Federal health officials have said part of the increase in rates, which fall under a broader definition known as autism spectrum disorders and also include Asperger's syndrome and pervasive developmental disorders, may be because of better and earlier diagnosis of the problem.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
One of my best friends has cousins who are autistic. Her pediatrician told her everything to look for in her kids for autism, particularly in her boy, based on the family history. Seems they are leaning toward genetic factors. It’s also grossly over diagnosed.
The startling fact: Autism symptoms and mercury poisoning are identical. That should mean something.....
Young children have been subjected to many more shots starting in the 80s. The fact: Mercury poisoning and autism have exactly the same symptoms! My point is NO mercury in ANY vaccinations. You also can get mercury poisoning in other ways than vaccinations.
Years ago I wrote a paper in my Philosophy of Science class on a peer reviewed article in Lancet magazine....The result showed a STRONG correlation to the onset of autism and dates of vaccination. Coincidence? Maybe, but my common sense says there is a BIG link.
When you are forced to fall back on conspiracy theories, its time to look elsewhere.
The result showed a STRONG correlation to the onset of autism and dates of vaccination.
I guess they never taught in your PoS class that "correlation does not equal causation".
Once again I ask, since thimerosal was in vaccines for decades, why did autism rates only increase in the 80s?
Years ago I wrote a paper in my Philosophy of Science class on a peer reviewed article in Lancet magazine....
First, its interesting that you will toss aside the new study (and there have been many others recently) yet embrace an old study that supports your notions. Also, the last place you should look for a good study is the Lancet, the home of Wakefield's discredited MMR/vaccine study and even more discredited Iraq Body Count study.
The Lancet is a joke.
Anyone who knows anything about toxicology knows that the dose makes the poison. Furthermore, the form the element takes has a huge effect on its toxicity.
Just for fun, look up sodium metal. It's nasty stuff, yet I bet that even after reading about its dangers, you will still eat salt...
And so what if some symptoms of autism and some symptoms of mercury poisoning are identical? That means nothing.
You mentioned taking a Philosophy of Science course. Didn't that course cover issues central to science, such as critical thought???
The Amish have other health issues that don't get a whole lot of attention - problems arising from inbreeding. Plus, look at their lifestyle - no TV, no video games, no processed foods, no electricity, and lots of outside exercise.
It's impossible to point out one difference between the Amish and the English (that's us) and say that is the cause of various problems. It's much more complicated than that
Maybe it’s micro-waved “chemical rich” baby bottles...
I've actually seen that myself. I worked with a student with a documented IQ of 64 (two separate tests over a 3 year period came up with a near identical score), but the mother refused to have the child have MR services. Instead, she 'doctor-shopped' until she found one that diagnosed the child with autism.
The kid is now in high school and doing poorly because the mother insists that he be in all regular classes, such as algebra, world history, etc and then punishes him when he doesn't do well on tests and/or the class.
It may be that the white folks have more access to medical care than the black folks.
Carolyn
This is also true for other syndromes—attention deficit disorder, etc.
In the two-volume, COMPREHENSIVE TEXTBOOK OF PSYCHIATRY, n Ninivaggi, of the Yale Child Study Center has a great Chapter outlining intelligence and differentiating borderline intelligence from ADHD. I note that many inner city minority children are being increasingly diagnosed for ADHD. At least some of these have IQs less than 85, and often in the 70s.
I wish more would read this, since it is very helpful in avoiding over utilizing of medications.
That is because any abnormal behavior, including just dumb children, is now a “learning disability”. That means that all genuine learning disabilities must be classified up to autism!
I think you’re right.
Study: Rare gene change linked to autism
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1951218/posts
Ping to a new thread on the subject:
“The number of children diagnosed with autism has risen in recent years to as many as one in 150 American children, but experts are unsure whether its prevalence really is increasing or the trend is due to a broader definition of autism.”
Thanks for the ping!
“The number of children diagnosed with autism has risen in recent years to as many as one in 150 American children, but experts are unsure whether its prevalence really is increasing or the trend is due to a broader definition of autism.”
Let's focus on the "real" autism...the cases that are not in the penumbra of doubt.
A friend who works in a primary school setting (occupational therapist) and is about to retire notes a dramatic increase in the severity of cases over her career span, which could indicate many things--admittedly, not necessarily an increase in the "average severity" of autism cases. But it could also indicate that there are more cases, so the ones she sees per capita are more serious...or it could mean that more serious cases were previously not in the schools... or...
Regardless, I have encountered the same in geographically diverse areas. I have another friend in California I will have to ask about this, as she has a rather senior position in a city district while still being very good about spotting the BS.
At least they published the letter when 10 of Wakefield's 12 co-authors retracted the paper's conclusions. And the Lancet itself described the study as "fatally flawed" (though perhaps they should have used "fraud," instead).
And it will be interesting to see if Wakefield is found guilty of the charges against him. I don't wish to suppress novel ideas (see, for example, Peter Duesberg), but neither do I like poor research.
Considering many studies show much higher rates in blacks, it might just be a methodology problem.
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