Autism and vaccines

[Bambi]

okay I am finally back in my office and can add some more research to this post.

first of all let me say that after reviewing the research it is my personal opinion that those who continue to push that vaccines lead to Autism are doing more harm then good.
that way you know where I stand on this issue.

1. Madsen et. al 2003 Thimerosal and the Occurrence of Autism: Negative Ecological Evidence From Danish Population-Based Data -- Madsen et al. 112 (3): 604 -- Pediatrics
published in PEDIATRICS Vol. 112 No. 3 September 2003, pp. 604-606
the main ingredient linked to ASD and vaccines was the use of Thimerosal in vaccines. Let me quote:

Results. A total of 956 children with a male-to-female
ratio of 3.5:1 had been diagnosed with autism during the
period from 1971–2000. There was no trend toward an
increase in the incidence of autism during that period
when thimerosal was used in Denmark, up through 1990.
From 1991 until 2000 the incidence increased and continued
to rise after the removal of thimerosal from vaccines,
including increases among children born after the discontinuation
of thimerosal.
Conclusions. The discontinuation of thimerosal-containing
vaccines in Denmark in 1992 was followed by an
increase in the incidence of autism. Our ecological data
do not support a correlation between thimerosal-containing
vaccines and the incidence of autism. Pediatrics 2003;
112:604–606; autism, vaccine, thimerosal, mercury, population,
epidemiology.

2. Madsen et al, 2002: did a retrospective cohort study of all children born in Denmark between Jan 1991 and Dec 1998. of 537,303 children 82% received the vaccine. there was no difference in the rate of autism in vaccinated vs unvaccinated children. [MMR vaccination and autism--a population-based fo... [Ugeskr Laeger. 2002] - PubMed result

3. Honda, Shimizue and Rutter, 2002 No effect of MMR withdrawal on the incidence of au... [J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2005] - PubMed result looked at the city of Yokohama in which vaccinations were given between 1989 and 1993 and then discontinued.

RESULTS: The MMR vaccination rate in the city of Yokohama declined significantly in the birth cohorts of years 1988 through 1992, and not a single vaccination was administered in 1993 or thereafter. In contrast, cumulative incidence of ASD up to age seven increased significantly in the birth cohorts of years 1988 through 1996 and most notably rose dramatically beginning with the birth cohort of 1993. CONCLUSIONS: The significance of this finding is that MMR vaccination is most unlikely to be a main cause of ASD, that it cannot explain the rise over time in the incidence of ASD, and that withdrawal of MMR in countries where it is still being used cannot be expected to lead to a reduction in the incidence of ASD.

4. Fombonne et al, 2006: Pervasive Developmental Disorders in Montreal, Quebec, Canada: Prevalence and Links With Immunizations:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.or...act/118/1/e139

The prevalence of pervasive developmental disorder in thimerosal-free birth cohorts was significantly higher than that in thimerosal-exposed cohorts (82.7 of 10000 vs 59.5 of 10000). Using logistic regression models of the prevalence data, we found no significant effect of thimerosal exposure used either as a continuous or a categorical variable. Thus, thimerosal exposure was unrelated to the increasing trend in pervasive developmental disorder prevalence. These results were robust when additional analyses were performed to address possible limitations because of the ecological nature of the data and to evaluate potential effects of misclassification on exposure or diagnosis. Measles-mumps-rubella vaccination coverage averaged 93% during the study interval with a statistically significant decreasing trend from 96.1% in the older birth cohorts (1988–89) to ~92.4% in younger birth cohorts (1996–1998). Thus, pervasive developmental disorder rates significantly increased when measles-mumps-rubella vaccination uptake rates significantly decreased. In addition, pervasive developmental disorder prevalence increased at the same rate before and after the introduction in 1996 of the second measles-mumps-rubella dose, suggesting no increased risk of pervasive developmental disorder associated with a 2–measles-mumps-rubella dosing schedule before age 2 years. Results held true when additional analyses were performed to test for the potential effects of misclassification on exposure or diagnostic status. Thus, no relationship was found between pervasive developmental disorder rates and 1- or 2-dose measles-mumps-rubella immunization schedule.

when you have individual stories linking the exposure to the vaccine with diagnosis of ASD you are looking at correlational data. to infer causality is a incorrect but often people do just that. However, research into factors that lead to a greater risk of having a child with autism are as follows:

1. exposure to rubella in utero. also mumps, herpes and CMV are all linked to greater risk.
2. Prematurity
3. birth complications
4. pre natal medication exposure: specifically: Valporic Acid (seizure medication)
4. some evidence that parental age (mothers and fathers over 40) might be related to increase risk
5. prenatal exposure to pesiticides (agricultural and pet pesticides), hazardous air pollutants. however these need to be replicated before we can be definite on this.
6. extreme prenatal stressors: some evidence that there is an increase of children with ASD who's mothers were in the Quebec Ice storm, and Hurricane Katrina.
7. genetics. we know that the risk is higher in siblings and with identical twins. However, efforts to locate the genes have been frustrating and no one trigger has been identified.

We also know that the prevalence rate for ASD has been growing steadily over the past several years. HOwever, we also have different diagnostic critieria then we did in the 60's and 70's so it's hard to tease that out.


so that is my +++++

happy reading

[Greg_Nuspel]

It's fetus exposure to the sounds of PlayStation during gestation

[Bambi]

It's fetus exposure to the sounds of PlayStation during gestation

don't even get me started!!! there was this person who set up a whole clinic in Toronto. He charged parents thousands of dollars. his premise was that autism was caused by noise exposure in utero.

[Michaelaw]

Thanks for the links Bambi but I'm confused Thimerosal has been studied to death and can safely be ruled out as having any relationship in the development of autism so we can safely say vaccines do not have any relationship to this condition?. What I am suggesting is perhaps some new studies need to be done on the stabilizer found in the MMR's, hydrolyzed gelatin (Glycine). If indeed it's true that glycine triggers an imbalance between amino acid neurotransmitters thereby changing the absorption rate of different cells possibly causing wide-spread disruption apparently resulting in systematic problems in the mind and body associated with classic autism, then we need to look at this. In essence, if we rule out across the board the notion that vaccines and autism may be linked because we've tested and concluded that Thimerosal poses no threat, then our testing is biased toward one ingredient...Am I wrong here? Should we not take the results of the Centers model and test with the same diligence we afforded Thimerosal?...Just to be safe!

[Bambi]

no Michael you are are not wrong but not all vaccines contain thimerosol and it was discontinued. however, epidemiological studies that look at the rate of ASD and vaccination continue to find no link whatsoever.

it would be a simple explanation but it is not true. we would be better off looking at the effects of pesticides and solutions on the developing fetus. Current research looking at siblings of children with ASD are finding that the features of ASD are there at a much younger age then can be accounted for by vaccines.

[Michaelaw]

Fair enough...point taken. That was to be my next question, had the vaccines still been administered sans the inclusion of Thimerosal with results suggesting no link. Apparently, as you suggest, this is the case. Thanks for the input. As an aside, kitten found a bag this morning and payed inside it for a long time. She is now covered throughout with very tiny sparkles. First thing I thought was to bath her until I saw the tiny sparkles are everywhere in the house. Right away I'm thinking "She's going to lick herself clean and ingest all these sparkles and who knows what they are...Plastic, glass, metal?...Did anyone test them?...Are they safe to consume?" Sometimes my imagination gets on top of me

[Bambi]

hey no problem. glad to debate with you anytime

re; kitty. I've had many a kitty poop glitter and tinsel. seems to do no harm and makes the litterbox festive