Biology in Action » Autism

Vaccines and Autism: Many Hypotheses, But No Correlation Found

biologystudent — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 13:09:20 +0000

by Rebecca Baker

A recent article discusses a currently ongoing debate as to whether certain vaccines are linked to autism. According to the article, the confusion began when a study suggested that there was a connection between the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. Dr. Paul Offit of the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia reviewed more than a dozen studies and found no such connection. He states that the onset of the symptoms and the vaccine happen purely by chance because the time that the vaccine is administered happens at the same age that symptoms of autism appear. Another hypothesis is that the preservative thimerosal in vaccines causes the disease. The studies analyzed by Dr. Offit do not show a change in autism rates based on the presence or absence of the preservative in vaccines. Thirdly, some believe that giving children a combination of vaccines at the same time weakens the immune system, which in turn causes autism. Dr. Offit refutes this by saying that the immune system can generally endure much more than the small amount of material in vaccines. Also, Dr. Offit claims that vaccines today contain less immune-triggering components than those of the past.

This debate continues to be a problem because parents are now refusing to get their kids vaccinated, therefore leading to an increase in diseases, such as the measles and the Haemophilus influenza. According to Dr. Offit, parents are putting their kids at a greater disadvantage by not getting them the vaccines.

This article appealed to me for several reasons. First, I want to be a special education teacher so I am greatly interested as to what causes autism. Secondly, anybody who wishes to someday be a parent should be aware of what is best for their children. While this article refutes the hypotheses about this topic, I am not sure if I am completely convinced. There have been other studies that imply the opposite of what this article says.

I recently read a book by Jenny McCarthy called Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism. She does not believe that vaccines are necessarily bad, but that certain kids may react differently to the vaccines. For example, her son, Evan, experienced problems with yeast overgrowth in his intestines. In order to treat this, McCarthy changed her son’s diet to a casein-free, gluten-free diet, gave him vitamin supplements and anti-fungals, and administered a detox of metals. Once he showed improvement with his intestines, he also demonstrated improvement in his neurological problems. McCarthy believes that the amount of vaccines given to her son caused his autism, but today he shows few signs of being autistic due to this diet and vitamin supplement.

Based on the radically different studies on the topic, I think that this debate has just begun. More research must be done in order to come to a definite conclusion. While reading the article I found, I had several questions. Whenever Dr. Offit was discussing one of the hypotheses, he stated that he analyzed several studies that refuted the idea. He never specified which studies he looked at. It seemed as though he did not provide enough evidence to support his findings. Also, if some children show severe reactions to the vaccines, is it not possible some kids are allergic to the vaccinations, as I am to penicillin? Because I am not convinced by both sides of the argument, more research must be conducted.

Source:
Infectious Diseases Society of America (2009, February 1). Vaccines And Autism: Many Hypotheses, But No Correlation Found. ScienceDaily. Retrieved September 29, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090130093407.htm

Kim Peek: The real Rain Man

biologyblog — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:41:21 +0000

The New Jersey Council on Exceptional Children will be having an evening with Kim Peek this Thursday.

Please join us this Thursday, April 23rd, as we welcome Kim Peek and his father Fran to NJ! Kim, an autistic savant, was the inspiration for the Academy Award winning film “Rain Man”, starring Dustin Hoffman. He travels the world sharing his knowledge as his father retells the story of Kim’s childhood, his successes and the challenges they’ve experienced along the way. Participants will have an opportunity to ask questions of Kim and Fran. At past events, Kim has even brought his “Oscar” to share with the audience! A book signing will follow the keynote presentation.

We will also welcome a host of presenters who will conduct poster sessions/presentations on some of the hottest topics in special education. Exhibitors will be on hand to share information on products and materials for use by special and general educators.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that you don’t want to miss – a flyer is attached containing additional information. We hope to see you Thursday night!

Thursday, April 23, 2009

6:00pm – 9:00 pm

Sheraton Edison Hotel Raritan Center

125 Raritan Center Parkway, Edison, NJ

Directions available at www.sheraton.com/edison (Look under “Local Area”)

6:00pm – 7:00pm Registration/Poster Sessions and Vendor Exhibits
7:00pm – 7:30pm NJCEC Awards and Scholarship Ceremony
7:30pm – 9:00pm Keynote Speakers- Kim and Fran Peek

Light refreshments will be served.

Visit us on the web at www.njcec.org!

New Study: Measles Vaccine Doesn’t Cause Autism

biologyblog — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:55:03 +0000

by Mackenze D

Recently, the CDC released a statement saying that children are not being vaccinated for MMR fearing that ingredients in the MMR vaccine may cause autism. Autism is a mysterious neurological disorder that affects one out of 150 children born every year in the United States. But a new study out of the Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health is not finding a connection between the two. They hope the study puts the rumors to rest and that children in the future are vaccinated from the Measels, which cause extreme itchy rahses, redness, fevers, runny noses and red eyes. Most children become vaccinated around 15 months of age. In the study, children with Austim were studied, and only 20% of them had infact recieved the MMR vaccination before showing signs of Autism.

I am not sure how to feel about this article. Lately in the new, actress Jennie McCarthy has been telling the media that she has cured her sons symptoms of Austim after he had recieved hisvaccination when he was a child. Even though this is a scietific study, who knows what is right and what is wrong? There is proof on both sides of the arguement if the MMR vaccine indeed causes Autism in select childen.

Source:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=new-study-measles-vaccine