AUTISM
By Dr. Stiles

Let me try to summarize this topic in my own “layman’s” terms. I say “layman” because I’m not an Immunologist or Neurologist, but merely a Pediatrician and a Mom. Everyone is concerned about Autism because it is a terrible thing and its numbers are rising. Pediatricians are of course particularly concerned. The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) keeps us informed of the research on Autism. There have been many studies and more are currently being conducted.

What Do We Know About the Causes of Autism?

We don’t know what exactly causes Autism. We know there is more Autism in boys than girls, in families with Bipolar disorder, and in kids whose mother’s family has some Autoimmune disease. Twin studies also suggest that there is a genetic predisposition. Research has found a number of genes associated with the disorder. Other studies have found abnormal levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain as well as irregularities in several regions of the brain. This suggests that Autism might result from disruption of normal brain cell development early in fetal development. This may be caused by defects in genes that control brain growth and which regulate how brain cells communicate. Environmental factors could influence these gene functions. Thus it appears that Autism is caused by a combination of factors.

Features of Autism

Autism is part of a group of diseases called “Autism Spectrum Disorders,” which is part of a larger group, “Pervasive Developmental Disorders.” The hallmark of Autism is impaired social interaction. Some of the more notable features of this are that the baby may:
  • Be unresponsive to people.
  • Focus on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods.
  • Excessively line up toys or objects.
  • Develop normally, then withdraw and become indifferent to others.
  • Be unresponsive to his or her name.
  • Avoid eye contact.
  • Show a lack of empathy.
  • Engage in repetitive movements such as rocking or twirling.
  • Engage in self-abusive behaviors such as biting or head-banging.
  • Refer to his or herself by name instead of by “I” or “Me.”
  • Speak in a sing-song voice.
  • Speak on a narrow range of topics.
  • Show repetitive speech of some idiom or line from the TV.

Autism and Vaccines

The MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine became suspect because of a flawed study by Dr. Wakefield published in 1998, and because MMR is given at a year of age.

“[Dr. Wakefield’s] assertion, since widely discredited, caused one of the biggest medical rows in a generation and led to a steep drop in the number of vaccinations in the United States, Britain and other parts of Europe, prompting a rise in cases of measles.” -- Reuters, Feb. 2, 2010.

Dr. Wakefield’s original 1998 article in the Lancet, the second most prominent medical journal in the world, has now been retracted. This is no small event. In addition to being bad research, it was discovered that his research was actually funded by lawyers in order to sue the vaccine company. Please see the following links for more information:

Autism tends to be diagnosed around a year of age because that’s when kids generally begin walking and talking. Thimersol, a mercury-containing preservative, was suspected at one time, and removed from almost all vaccines years ago. There are kids who have grown up receiving all Thimersol-free vaccines -- yet the rate of Autism continues to rise. Numerous studies over the past decade have failed to show a link between Autism and Vaccines.

Research

In 1997, at the request of Congress, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) formed its Autism Coordinating Committee (NIH/ACC) to enhance the quality, pace and coordination of efforts at the NIH to find a cure for autism (see this website from the NIH).

Conclusion

The autism mystery is far from solved. It’s hard to reverse 12 years of rumor regarding Autism and vaccines. It’s hard to trust that the Government, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and your doctor have your child’s best interest at heart. But I think the best thing we can do right now is to breastfeed (an essential part of the immune system), avoid antibiotics, screen for Autism in the physician practice, and then seek early intervention for anything suspicious.

Links

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

National Library of Medicine and Natl Institutes of Health

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry