Autism now 1 in 100. Increase forces docs to worry over cause.

[Guest guest]

Saturday, 3rd February 2007 Scotland Tue 30 Jan 2007 Rise and rise of autism is a riddle the experts can't crack KEVIN SCHOFIELD EDUCATION

CORRESPONDENT ( kschofield) http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=154472007 BY ANY measure, the rise in autism rates in the past 20 years has been astronomical. Pre-1990 estimates put the number at about four or five cases per 10,000 people. But a study published last year in the medical journal the

Lancet suggested that the condition now affects one person in every hundred. Such a huge surge has inevitably led to much speculation about the cause, but there has not been a definitive answer. Those in the traditionalists' camp insist that autism is a genetic condition and that the increase in cases is down to the fact that the medical profession has

got better at diagnosing it. But others say that, while that may explain part of the rise, there must be other reasons, given the enormous scale of the increase. Their argument appeared to be given some weight in 1998, when the Lancet published research linking autism with the triple measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Although the paper, by Dr Andrew Wakefield, has since been discredited, the effects of his claims are still felt today. Many parents are still reluctant to have their children vaccinated with MMR, with the result that cases of measles in Scotland are on the increase. The most recent figures show there were 26 in 2006 compared to just one the year before. The ongoing uncertainty even led to 28 UK paediatricians and vaccination experts, including Neil McIntosh, a professor of child life

and health at Edinburgh University, to sign an open letter warning of "more unnecessary deaths" unless the MMR fears were addressed. Dr Iain McClure, a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist based at the Vale of Leven hospital in Alexandria, is a specialist in autism assessment and intervention and s to the view that there is no evidence linking MMR and autism. He believes that improvements in diagnosis techniques are behind the apparent rise in autism cases. But that is not to say that he has dismissed the suggestions that environmental factors may also have a part to play, or that he does not believe that continued research is essential to establish whether or not other factors may be at work. He said: "Autism is on the increase, but there are pretty good reasons why that might be. "For example, it is probably the

case that we are getting better at identifying autism spectrum problems and we are starting to identify the more subtle cases. "It's also the case that more and more people are becoming autism aware and are referring cases in, so there is actually an increasing waiting list in Scotland for autism assessments." Dr McClure went on: "It's important that we don't have a closed mind on this. It's important for people to keep asking the questions and to keep doing the research. "Parents are worried about this, and if parents are worried, scientists and clinicians need to pay attention to that worry and not be seen as dismissing it, because then people start to suspect that there is some kind of cover-up. "The problem up until now is that there hasn't been adequate evidence about other possible causes of autism and so it's about waiting until that

happens, if it ever happens." One of those who have questioned the extent to which environmental factors have contributed to the rise in autism rates is Bill Welsh. Mr Welsh set up Action Against Autism a decade ago after his grandson was diagnosed with the condition. He is convinced that there is a link between MMR and autism, although he thinks toxins and pollution in the atmosphere may also be to blame. The only way to end the uncertainty, he says, is for the government to launch a nationwide investigation which would involve every autistic youngster being tested. Mr Welsh said: "The explosion of autism diagnosis throughout the developed world continues to throw an uncomfortable spotlight on the traditionalists within the autism community who maintain, against the growing evidence, that the condition is solely genetic in origin. "There

is absolutely no doubt that the MMR vaccine is deeply implicated in what has happened to a sub-set of these children. "I see no reason to disbelieve the overwhelming and compelling evidence of the parents until the government or the medical establishment introduce a comprehensive and practical test for every autistic." Dr McClure insisted he would support any attempts to shed more light on what causes autism. "Nobody that I'm working with wants to close down research or stop people asking these questions because that would be bad science," he said. "The whole point of science is to keep an open mind, but at the same time we have to have a robust scientific basis." As chairman of the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network's (SIGN) forthcoming guideline on autism spectrum disorder (ASD), he has also spent the past three years examining all the available evidence on

screening, assessment and clinical interventions in ASD, as regards children and young people. The research will lead to the publication in March of guidance for medical practitioners involved in the treatment of autism. "What we've learned is that there isn't a lot of evidence out there," Dr McClure said. "The purpose of the guidance we are publishing is to make sure that clinicians are using the best evidence available and the best interventions are being used for children and young people with autism." Dr McClure is also reluctant to talk about 'treatments' for autism, insisting that can give false hope to the families of those with the condition. "Treatments implies it has a cure or it can be cured," he said. "But the evidence we have at the moment is that there is no evidence. "It is much better to be realistic with patients and families .

"However, there are interventions that can improve the way the child presents with autism." These interventions can take the form of drugs to address the young person's behaviour, or therapy to improve their communication skills. However, Dr McClure stressed that doctors were reluctant to take the pharmalogical route unless all other options had been explored. "Very few mainstream clinicians would be in favour of using medication for autism unless the non-pharmalogical methods had been used first," he said. "However, there have been some trials of some medications and some evidence that it might be useful for the short-term treatment of aggression. "At the same time, though, there is also evidence of drugs that don't work." Dr McClure also stressed that it was important not to lump all autistic youngsters into the one category, pointing out that

there are different levels of severity across the whole spectrum. While there are those who can enjoy a relatively normal and successful life, there are others who are severely debilitated by the condition. He said: "Some children have autism which is a severe, life-long condition and it is those children who, it would probably be true to say, that not much in the way of significant discoveries have been made to advance their prognosis. "What people are trying to do is improve the support for people like that and the recognition of their difficulties. "What we want to do is minimise the stress for these people and their families." THE HIDDEN CONDITION FAMILIES from across the country contacted The Scotsman after the launch of our week-long series looking at the education of children with autism. Here are three of the comments posted on scotsman.com.

• We have been battling for two years to have our nine-year-old diagnosed with Asperger's. The school has been spectacularly unhelpful and refuses to believe there is a problem because she is extremely bright and not disruptive in class. It has only ever referred her for speech and language therapy, even although she has no problems with language development, and she has not yet seen anyone (such as an educational psychologist) who can help her with any of her other problems or make a diagnosis. • My ten-year-old son has recently been diagnosed as having Asperger's Syndrome. We have never sought assistance from the state machine in the past. The pace at which society has assisted us has been breath-taking. We live in the greater Glasgow area. The school told us to seek help. We asked the school for an appointment with the educational psychologist. The educational psychologist would

not take an appointment without a referral from the GP. The GP told us it was nothing to do with them. The school phoned the GP. We managed to get an appointment with the speech therapist. They were unable to produce a report. The state enrolled our son at a speech therapist's summer club for children with communication skill difficulties. The above all lasted over three years. Last September, he was finally assessed by the child psychologist. We are still awaiting a formal, written report. Perhaps I'm being ungracious and they need more time. I wish I could work at that speed when I go into my work. • I have Asperger's Syndrome. Our son, has Asperger's Syndrome and we believe our middle daughter, five, may have the condition as well. Based on both my own school experiences and an understanding of how our son works, we decided that school would be totally inappropriate. We

therefore decided to home-educate and have not regretted that decision for one minute. Nothing can possibly be better at developing a child's understanding of the real world than living in it, which is what home education offers. All the evidence from research also shows that home educating, which is not about school at home in any way but child- driven learning, beats school on every measure, whether academic, social or building a confident and free-thinking adult. Related topics Autismhttp://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=702 Teachinghttp://news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=493 This article: http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=154472007 Last updated: 30-Jan-07 10:08 GMT Comments 1. Scullion, Canada / 2:03am 30 Jan 2007 Has it anything to do with better categorization of maladies that were once lumped under the title of general mental illness (and I mean no disrespect to anyone by that term)?Time magazine, Canadian edition, has an interesting article which makes the point that there are no fetal alcohol syndrome sufferers over 40. Of course there must have been, says the article, they were just misdiagnosed.Report as unsuitable 2. www.scottwebb.co.uk / 2:07am 30 Jan 2007 Quote:Rise and rise of autism is a riddle the experts can't crack.....Really?.....try checking whats going into the vaccines http://www.opposingdigits.com/vaccines/When you realise there can be only two possibilities.One. That the level of intellect we have in the medical profession these days has gone sadly downhill.....or....Two. That it is deliberate and seen by those we put our trust in.....as doing their bit toward the New World Order....Dumbing down of the population agenda.Wake up, after all, its your kids were talking about hereReport as unsuitable 3. Wally, Arizona / 2:36am 30 Jan 2007 this article here by Robert F. Kennedy is considered one of the best advancing the vaccine theory. http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/06/16/thimer... but there is also a massive amount of work advancing this idea. Many doctors are convinced of it. But I think ScottWeb in #2 is correct in his statements. Sadly, it is done on purpose. to dumb us down. to weigh us down. to handicap us. to financially burden us. Consider the very large amount of ritalin & prozac being put into people especially children. This is problematic as well merely for the people. But 2 north american universities, 1 being I believe St. Louis University and the

other a Canadian university, studied the effect of pharmaceutical drugs in the fresh water on fish. Believe it or not a lot of these pharamaceutical drugs just pass right through people and end up in the ground water. and never go away. The St. Louis University took the concentration of prozac in the Mississippi river already and duplicated it in a laboratory. Then they began growing fish in that water with the prozac in it. and the fish became of mixed gender where they had traits of both male & female, became dysfunctional and didn't reproduce. and this is happening now to the fish in the Mississippi River. the Canadian university did similar research and came to same conclusion about some rivers in Canada, these drugs are destroying the fish in the fresh water rivers & lakes in north america right now. and the Mississippi is a river that collects one third the rain water that falls in the US. and it flushes all that water into the ocean. In time as

this stuff doesn't break down the ocean water will be similarly destroyed. in the Book of Revelation (I think chapter 18) there is a verse about how jesus will deal with the people who have destroyed the earth when he returns. The earth is being destroyed now. by a variety of means as well.Report as unsuitable 4. sheena, in the hoose / 2:48am 30 Jan 2007 1) Scullion. When reading through the posts yesterday two boys who were at school with me 45 years ago suddenly sprang to mind. The descriptions given by parents of autistic children seem to fit them very well. Both were bright academically - they were in the A stream of the County's Academy, so probably top

say 7% of that year's pupils. One was fascinated by space, knew everything about it and then some, the other was a model railway buff. Neither had any friends. They were not particularly sad although they never joined in any jokes or fun. Just seemed 'self-contained'. Both spent breaks reading or walking up and down on their own. One was really fat and pale with red hair and was often made fun of or verbally bullied but it was water off a duck's back to him, he just ignored it and the bullies soon gave up. This fatter one often talked, muttered really, to himself and wandered into class late or left early with no excuse. I know they got their highers but don't know what happened next - neither is on Friends Reunited! I am starting to think now about a boy certainly and a girl maybe from Primary School who seem to fit the behaviour pattern. I wonder how many of us can remember similar fellow pupils, back in the fifties and sixties. We didn't have a label like

Autism for them, they were merely regarded as 'odd'.Report as unsuitable 5. Pete39, Tassy / 6:01am 30 Jan 2007 At that particular time the belt was a tool to install self discipline within the school. (early fifties for state schools I believe). Contrary to popular belief the belt was used sparingly. It installed a very strong awareness of right and wrong. Not only to the recepient of the punishment, but also to his mates. It was used either for total failure to achieve certain standards of education (me) or gross misbehaviour (them). I can remember guys getting carried away with themselves, but do not believe that it lasted too long. It is interesting to see that the

kids who are suspected of suffering from Asperger's Syndrome survived, and you still have wee individuals totally absorbed with their own importance who still shelter under the declaration that "it wasn't really me mummy". Mind you it is a bit of a bummer when you realise you have to take your wee treasure out of the country to find out whether or not the alternative solution works.Report as unsuitable 6. MS / 6:59am 30 Jan 2007 What is interesting, is thqat there appears to be research surfacing elsewhere in the world which seems to replicate Andrew Wakefiled's findings. Because of the way he's been treated, the findings are being handled very circumspectly. One of the front-ruinners for causes seems to be the mercury-based preservative that was used in MMR vaccines. I believe that has been - so quietly - dropped and an laternaitve is being used. If either or both of these are true then the levels of autism should drop in the years to come.Report as unsuitable 7. Rulesbutnotrulers, East Lothian / 7:35am 30 Jan 2007 Is there GOOD data about autism in other countries? Perhaps places where there's less pollution and compulsory medication of the young and purer food, etc? Are we talking nature or nurture here?Report

as unsuitable 8. Lanna / 8:26am 30 Jan 2007 Due to the controversy with the vaccines, I've been encouraged to request the vaccines be given separately to my children and spaced apart to allow for the immune system to not be overwhelmed. This is just a theory, but allowing the immune system to reacte and recover in between doses seems an adequate approach, rather than refuse the vaccines altogether. MS, regarding the mercury-based preservative vaccines, are they still being used at all, perhaps shipped to third world countries? I think Rules has a good point, elsewhere in the world, what is the data re autism. My knowledge on autism is limited, but I'm still concerned for the sake of 'our next generation.'Report as unsuitable 9. thinking, Scotland / 8:58am 30 Jan 2007 Didn't someone yesterday mention that the Amish don't have vaccinations and don't have autism.If that is true, has anyone done any research into this?Report as unsuitable 10. Flash67, Edinburgh / 9:25am 30 Jan 2007 New World Order? Deliberate dumbing down of the population? Book of Revelations?Wow - they are out in

force today!As Dr. McLure said, any ideas have to have a sound scientific basis, and, as usual with todays society, pseudoscience and disproven theories seem to be swallowed, hook, line and stinker!I personally have an inclination towards the environmental theory. Unfortunately, the subtle long term effects of many chemicals we use in our foodstuffs and in our general environment may take decades to untangle. The MMR idea seemed a good shot, but so much research has now gone into this area that it's time to move on.Report as unsuitable 11. Digitalkatie, Edinburgh / 9:38am 30 Jan 2007 #9 The Amish also don't have TVs and VCRs. Research is starting to show a

correlation between autism and TVhttp://www.davidcolarusso.com/edblog/2007/01/causal-link-...Report as unsuitable 12. scotspatriot, In the coal shed. / 9:56am 30 Jan 2007 Very interesting comments. Our son is Aspergers and we lay the blame at MMRs doorstep for that. Anyone with kids under 2 years need to seriously look at alternative vaccination methods. By the way, I love a good conspiracy theory more than anyone I know, but a New World Order dumbing everyone down? Come on, look at the so called leader of the NWO,

President Bush. How dumb can you get?Report as unsuitable 13. Sir Dun Eiden / 10:06am 30 Jan 2007 Scottwebb, get a grip. You seriously believe that there are people out there deliberately making people Autistic ? Go check into the Royal Ed, they will sort you out. Honestly mate , you have issues.Report as unsuitable 14. Sir Dun Eiden / 10:10am 30 Jan 2007 I would agree with the argument that it is Technology and research driving this increase , as with a lot of other phenomenom. Global Warming, Diabetes, Cancer. I am not saying these things should be ignored or brushed off, simply that there is not enough data for a long enough period to make a reasonable statement that they are all increasing. But such a bland statement does not make headlines or sell newspapers. 150 years ago (or less?) Autistic people would have been simply known as the Village Idiot.Report as unsuitable 15. NoNamesLeftInThisSystem, Edinburgh / 10:14am 30 Jan 2007 "Dumbing down..."Check the

"symptoms" of "giftedness" - having a high I.Q. makes you liable to be diagnosed autistic by [unconsciously resentful?] supposed authorities.Try: http://www.sengifted.org/articles_learning/Lovecky_Except...Report as unsuitable 16. heather fae the hills / 10:15am 30 Jan 2007 12 scotspatriot. Just a thought about your comment about alternatives.When we were younger (in the 1960's), we would be sent round to visit whoever had caught the mumps, measles or chickenpox....the reasoning behind it was that it was better to catch it

young and build up your own immunity.Yes, this was not without risk, but there would appear to be little done in the way of alternatives. I believe the GP's were paid handsomely for every MMR injection given.Report as unsuitable 17. Magpie, Alloa / 10:21am 30 Jan 2007 I have read these comments with great interest and was very sad to see that parents are still having great difficulties with the diagnosis of austism in their children. Although I am pleased to note that the medical profession is recognising ASD and Aspergers Syndrome. As I stated in my comments yesterday, my son who is now 35 years old and was born in 1972, which coincidentally was the

year the medical profession officially recognised autism as a mental disorder. It may seem today that there is an increase in children with ASD, but I firmly believe it is down to more recognition of the condition. On saying that I also believe in some cases it could be due to vaccinations received. In my own case when my son was born, it was a forceps delivery and Steven was put on the observation register for 2 years, but because autism did not officially exist and no research had been done regarding vaccinations he received the whooping cough vaccine at 3 months old. I did believe up until 5 years ago that it was a combination of the trauma of his birth and the whooping cough vaccination that caused his autism. Steven is severely autistic and also suffers from three types of epilepsy, grand mal, petit mal and temporal lobe. I now believe research should be done into genetic reasons for autism, the reason being my younger sister now has 4 sons, one has been diagnosed ASD

and the other with Aspergers Syndrome. I also know of other families where autism crosses the generations due to increased diagnosis. Plus I think there should be research into the fact that epilepsy is common in people with austism. Regardless of what is the cause of the increase in autism, the Scottish Executive have to look at providing the appropriate care not only for these children but continued care for when they reach adulthood. It is all very well providing the right support structure for ASD when the sufferer is young, but as mentioned in your article there is no cure as yet for autism, therefore lifelong support has to be addressed for people with ASD and Aspergers Syndrome and their families.Report as unsuitable 18. Elidor / 10:21am 30 Jan 2007 Scottweb - I really struggle to believe that intelligent people can post comments like your at no2. New World Order? Dumbing down? Really? So how does that work with autism, then? The NWO are dumbing down the population, by randomly creating/inducing autism in some individuals? Do you actually stop to think before you post, or is absolutely everything a conspiracy to you and therefore no thought is actually required? Do you know anything about autism? Do you know autism isn't actually a measure of intellect? Do you really think high rates of autism would be useful to any shadow government trying to enslave a population? Here's a thought, why not stop logging on to conspiracy sites, educate yourself a litte, start thinking for yourself and come and live in the real world?Report as unsuitable 19. www.scottwebb.co.uk / 10:37am 30 Jan 2007 Comment@12 Scotspatriot. Hi mate, if you think he runs things......think again :)One of the best vids out there that explains things is called....None Dare Call it Genocide...The versions that google video have are deliberately very poor quality, the counters to how many watched it are regularly reset but the audio is fine and well worth listening to http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=460485657572647...Ive also put a vid player up for those who want to educate themselves

because I'm getting cheesed of with google videos efforts as they have been caught resetting Alex Jones......Terror Storm and others hhttp://scottwebb.co.uk/15.htmlReport as unsuitable 20. Sir Dun Eiden / 10:47am 30 Jan 2007 Dont listen to him , he is a Lizard underneath.Report as unsuitable 21. www.scottwebb.co.uk /

10:48am 30 Jan 2007 Comment@20 Sir Dun, i thought so :)Report as unsuitable 22. Elidor / 11:34am 30 Jan 2007 woowoo alertReport as unsuitable 23. Enquire / 11:38am 30 Jan 2007 If you have questions about educational support for your child you could contact Enquire - the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning. The service operates a

helpline for parents and carers of children and young people with additional support needs and to children and young people themselves. Enquire provides impartial advice and information on things like: the education system and how it works, legal rights and responsibilities, resolving disputes, and local contacts. The helpline deals with over 2000 enquiries a year and the majority of these are from parents of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Contact the helpline on 0845 123 2303 (calls charged at local rates).Report as unsuitable 24. buxton, England / 11:44am 30 Jan 2007 I am very wary of conspiracy theories, I do not think they are helpful. Vaccination rates have plummeted in the last few years, but cases of Autism haven't. If there was the direct link that the consiracy theorists say there is, we would be seeing the incidence of autism decline after peaking when vaccination was almost universal. I am the father of two children with Autism, but I do not think that MMR was responsible in either case.Report as unsuitable 25. ddmc / 11:46am 30 Jan 2007 #13 do you seriously believe the pharmacutical industry has our health as it's #1 priority ?, look at GSK, Eli Lily, Aspartame, Vioxx etc the list is very long. Profit is their #1 priority & if a drug trial goes wrong they manipulate the

research or researchers. Aspartame is proven to be a neurotoxin yet was passed by the US FDA against the recommendation of it's own scientists & is an ingredient in all foods/drinks which claim to be sugar free. You need to wake up & do some research without accepting everything at face value.Report as unsuitable 26. Eye glass, Derby / 12:15pm 30 Jan 2007 Re: Sheena#4 I agree that in the olden days children who were now be 'diagnosed' as 'autistic' were merely okay though odd. I dont decry the suffering that children at the higher end of the 'autism ' spectrum have. However, I deplore the perceived need to medicalise every departure from

increasingly narrower parameters of normality. Is this newish cultural tendency political in origin, perhaps drug companies have a vested interest in medicalising the various eccentricities of perfectly happy , nice peopleReport as unsuitable 27. Border Comment, Scottish Borders / 12:36pm 30 Jan 2007 I thank ddmc for finishing his post by saying that individuals have to do some research and not accept everything at face value. The educational establishment as a whole especially are not receptive to being asked to justify why they have taken the decisions they have made, and do not like being "found out" that they have taken decisions without fully advising

parents of their rights and options. They work on "the behind closed door", committee system again more interested in their immediate budget rather than the needs of the child. This permeates throughout the system, so I would concur with ddmc, and Enquire, ask, research, find someone to trust to help if need be, then be prepared to write some probing letters asking for answers.Be persistent until you get clear answers to the questions you have posed, and remember use the Freedom of Information act, to check on policies and decisions made. This approach is not confrontational, but a necessary approach to deal with education professionals who unfortunately in my experience have been quite prepared not to be very forthcoming.Report as unsuitable 28. CelticOK, Thurso / 12:37pm 30 Jan 2007 My son is 10 and was quickly diagnosed at three years old. There is absolutely no history whatsoever in our famililies to suggest his condition is genetic and yet almost every doctor i have ever seen tells me this. I have no doubt that my sons condition was induced by the MMR vacination. This however will never be admitted/proven due to the financial hold the drug companies have over our government. One last thing, if MMR is so safe why will Tony Blair not divulge if his son had it ?Report as unsuitable 29. CelticOK,

Thurso / 12:41pm 30 Jan 2007 My son is 10 and was quickly diagnosed at three years old. There is absolutely no history whatsoever in our famililies to suggest his condition is genetic and yet almost every doctor i have ever seen tells me this. I have no doubt that my sons condition was induced by the MMR vacination. This however will never be admitted/proven due to the financial hold the drug companies have over our government. One last thing, if MMR is so safe why will Tony Blair not divulge if his son had it ?Report as unsuitable 30. Wally, Arizona / 12:45pm 30 Jan 2007 doctors recommend that parents resist the vaccines for children as long as they can,

that it very much be avoided when very young as infants. and that the vaccines be spaced out. Infants have died from vaccines. and there is some evidence that children who are able to avoid the vaccines all-together get sick in their childhoods much much less than the others. The vaccines themselves at least the ones we're getting in the US are weakening the immune systems of the children. In the US we may be getting a different vaccine regimen than in the UK. there are lots of vaccines here and they're pushing them on the children as infants. schools are not allowing children to attend unless they've had literally over a dozen vaccines. Many people incur the expense of private schools to avoid the vaccines. in some cases the states have even taken children away from the parents if the vaccines are avoided.Report as unsuitable 31. hmds / 1:00pm 30 Jan 2007 Whilst I concur that any sector in healthcare doesn't "set out" to make people ill, as a person who has worked in Cancer Care for some years (lots of pharmaceutical industry/drug trial experience), I can tell you that you're viewing the situation through rose-coloured glasses. There are many drugs which exacerbate illnesses, in some cases because they're wrongfully prescribed, and in some cases because the drug brings to bear with it too much risk of subsequent complications; nevertheless, many of these drugs continue to be promoted, sold, and administered, because the monetary losses would be too great if the drug were to be pulled from use. The pharmaceutical industry is much more about profit than people appear to believe. When much money is invested

into research, much profit is expected in return. In my experience, I have known more than one child with no family history of autism (or any other genetic complication) who has been provided the MMR vaccine, endured illness immediately thereafter including high fever, lethargy, and projectile vomiting, and subsequently regressed and was diagnosed either as autistic or "PDD" (pervasive developmental disorder). Some lose the ability to communicate entirely and permanently. If some component of the MMR vaccine is not the cause, we should expect scientists to prove it. To state simply that there is no such possible link between an administered drug and an almost immediate negative outcome is not an argument, but simply contradiction. Other than the desire to avoid compensation payments, I can think of no reasonable excuse to be made to support and defend medication "as-is" (other than profit) and to not investigate negative outcomes and seek

alternatives which may prove safer, and as (or more) effective. Science is not static, and yet, in the case of many medications, it may, at times, appear almost so to be. With respect to any medication administered to a child in- or ex-utero, one should be always cautiously sceptical, since the outcome may sentence both parent and child to a lifetime of developmental complications and roadblocks in education and community living. Imagine living with an adult who cannot communicate and spends much of his/her day smashing things, soiling his/her garments, and requiring constant attendant care: this is the new reality for many parents. Sadly, it is the case that presently there is no alternative for the MMR vaccine, save for the delay of it, and the subsequent illness which may produce other negative outcomes.Report as unsuitable 32. Kitty, Scotland / 1:09pm 30 Jan 2007 Angela Canning's children were vaccinated shortly before their "cot deaths". The Sunday Times reported that the district nurse had declared both babies healthy when she went to give them their vaccinations a few hours before they died.In all the years and all the legal wrangling and campaigning that followed Angela being charged and convicted of murder, why did no-one suggest that the vaccinations may have something to do with their deaths?While there are obviously other causes of autism there is to my mind enough anecdotal evidence to suggest that vaccinations may also be a significant cause and we shouldn't risk it until a lot more research has been done.Report as unsuitable 33. MikeXL, Edinburgh / 1:10pm 30 Jan 2007 #2 Scottweb. I think you need another layer on your tinfoil hat.Report as unsuitable 34. Neil, 9% Growth Party / 1:11pm 30 Jan 2007 I'm with #11. Autism is essentially an inability to react to human beings & it is quite reasonable that with TVs, the net, computer games chidren who would once have been accused

of "always having your nose in a book" may more deeply be immersing themselves in the electronic world. Add in that extent to which diagnosing previously unknown syndromes generally is such a growth industry & we have an explanation. Since autistic children often turn out to be remarkably talented in particular fields it could even be argued that they are a successful adaption to the modern environment rather than a problem.Report as unsuitable 35. www.scottwebb.co.uk / 1:20pm 30 Jan 2007 Here is the latest rates in the USA http://dawn.thot.net/autism2.html Maybe they are all mad

also ?Report as unsuitable 36. IWright, Edinburgh / 1:28pm 30 Jan 2007 Like everyone else posting here, I don't know how much of the rise in autism is due to vaccinations, changes in diagnosing, or any other possibility. What I would like to know is that, given the staggering increase in autism over the past few years, what is being done to investigate it?Report as unsuitable 37.

Prophit, Colorado, United States / 1:32pm 30 Jan 2007 We are having a massive increase in Autism here as well, and we discovered its the drug companies and their perscription drugs for our children. There is a massive Law suit right now against Eli Lilly company for just that reason, that the Bush admin tried to exempt from culpability, but they lost that vote. I suspect when it goes to trial, there will be much more information available as to what evidence they have to prove such contention. You might want to take a look at that in your country as well. remember, with all manufacturing being shipped to slave labor countries, that only leaves the following for growing your economy: 1. drugs, illness, hospitals, doctors etc. Britians drug companies came from the edge of disaster to profitability (excessive) due to fear, terrorist threats for vaccines, and a lessening of testing standards for

drugs. 2. War - death maiming which helps the GDP of number 1 above. 3. Debt, financial services based on fiat currency. 4. Prisons... Now controlled by private industries. The new industry is crime... now we have civil issues that have become criminal in order to fill our prisons and make them profitable. No training or reduction attempts at recidivism. Nice huh???? This is our gov in action.... well, as Tsun Su says, "take their tools and use them against the enemy". Make no mistake, your gov has declared war against you. You are now the enemy. Get used to it. they need you "sick, dead, maimed, criminally prosecuted, in debt" for their new economy to run.Report as unsuitable 38. scotspatriot, Behind you / 1:32pm 30 Jan 2007 34. Since autistic children often turn out to be remarkably talented in particular fields it could even be argued that they are a successful adaption to the modern environment rather than a problem. I agree. Socially they may toil but academically it seems they have no boundaries.Our son has a memory that would scare you. I can only suggest that this will benefit him in the long run.Report as unsuitable 39. scotspatriot, Behind you / 1:40pm 30 Jan 2007 Ok, the 'developed

world' has statistics to inform us of these rises in ASDs but what about the 'developing world?' Would it be fair to say that, for instance, drug companies would have a broader remit to test their drugs in these parts of the world?What are the statistics in these cases? Are they available?Report as unsuitable 40. petrol head, Edinburgh / 1:55pm 30 Jan 2007 Just thinking at a tangent... What if the symptoms autism are being brought on by the increasing influence of the nanny state upon us, restricting freedom, discouraging assertiveness and individuality?Report as unsuitable 41. scotspatriot, Behind you / 2:00pm 30 Jan 2007 petrol head Always good to think at a tangent but I would say 'No' to your idea. I would say ASD is not influenced by any social condition. Other conditions, such as depression, may be influenced by these external factors but not ASD. Just my thought petrolhead. It's open to criticism.Report as unsuitable 42. Neil, 9% Growth Party / 2:22pm 30 Jan 2007 Thanks Scotspatriot. Iam glad of some anecdotal support since theorising, however important, requires some factual back-up. Sounds like he is in good hands.Report as unsuitable 43. Tavish, South of the border / 2:36pm 30 Jan 2007 I have a son of 23 who has Aspergers. It took the local authority 3 years to agree a diagnosis for him. The speech Therapist saw him just once a year. We had to fight the LEA in a Tribunal to get him the special education he needed (his progress improved a lot after

that).Around 1% of children are now diagnosed as autistic. Since boys are 3 times more likely to have the consduition, this means that 2 to 3% of all boys are now recognised as autistic. That is a staggering figure. It is a national disgrace that there has been no national study of the causes of autism. Nobody believes that Blair's children has MMR vaccine, despite his weasel words in response to repeated questions. All the Government effort seems to have been spent on justifying MMR vaccine. For the record, our son's bahaviour began to change just 10 days after his MMR vaccine - as our diaries of the time clearly show.Of course, this is not considered scientifically proven evidence.......Report as unsuitable 44. tessterror / 3:05pm 30 Jan 2007 Scottwebb what makes you such an officionado on everything published by Scotsman newspaper, you dont respond well to negative comments either- maybe you just like playing devils advocate to get everyones backs up, but seriously you need to get a life!!Report as unsuitable 45. Saraboomdeay, Dumfries / 3:06pm 30 Jan 2007 Autism : a culmination of events that6 is the straw that breaks the camel's back. (Caring for a child with autism - Ives & Munro) For Rowan That bloody strawThat

broke the camel's back.I thought it was my last strawIf only i had seen it coming.But it was Rowan's last straw.Birth, genetics, cognitive flawAll culminating in this, for himA U T I S M Micro machines and putty,Rolling up in duvets and sliding on the floorNot remembering yesterdayOr even knowing todayAnd then tomorrow, when it all starts againHow confusing this must be -To not notice the anger hidden in wordsOr to feel the love that's shown in a hug The last wee strawSnapped you in two.Not my last strawBut Rowan's.Report as unsuitable 46. Mike Aynsley, WA state, USA / 3:18pm 30 Jan 2007 This is another example of a fabricated story... making something of nothing. The article should have ended immediately after this statement: "Those in the traditionalists' camp insist that autism is a genetic condition and that the increase in cases is down to the fact that the medical profession has got better at diagnosing it..."Full stop. The other factor at work here is the sheer volumes of people who won't give up going to doctors until either they or one of their immediate family are diagnosed with SOMETHING.Report as unsuitable 47. Mike Aynsley, WA state, USA / 3:21pm 30 Jan 2007 #11, et al.... I lived near an Amish community as a child... the other

thing they don't do is whine and run to the doctor every time a blemish appears on their skin, etc.Report as unsuitable 48. scotspatriot / 3:39pm 30 Jan 2007 Mike Aynsley You are entitled to your opinion, like anyone else. But, I would guess, you have no experience of this condition and I would therefore not hold any of your beliefs on this subject in high regard. You come across as ignorant to others who have the experience and perhaps looking for a reaction. You won't get it from me mate, as I don't feel it is worth the effort.Report as unsuitable 49. scotspatriot / 3:44pm 30 Jan 2007 Neil, 9% Growth Party Your welcome Sir, your welcome.Report as unsuitable 50. Rulesbutnotrulers, East Lothian / 4:26pm 30 Jan 2007 Autism in Japan? China? Amongst native Ozzies? In Amish communities? Does anyone have GOOD data on this type of research?Report as unsuitable 51. WIley, CA state, USA / 4:29pm 30 Jan 2007 #9 Re: Amish autisim rate Dan Olmsted has gone on record twice claiming that the Amish autism rate is vastly lower than that of the general US population, further claiming to find zero cases of austism in unvaccinated children. Unfortunately, the 30 March 2006 edition of The New England Journal of Medicine reported a genetic mutation in Amish children which causes "...seizures that progress to autism and retardation" In other words, in a population with a genetic predisposition TOWARD autism, Olmsted found none, thus calling into question the nature of his research (i.e., if

you only look for data that matches your theory you're unlikely to find data that doesn't). http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/354/13/1370 http://www.clinicforspecialchildren.org/ http://www.medpagetoday.com/Neurology/Autism/tb/2954 There's another thing wrong with Olmsted's analysis in that he ignores the fact that the Amish populations tend to be closed (or to put it more bluntly, inbred). Most people tend to automatically think of inbreeding as amplifying undesireable genetic characteristics, but it can equally well attenuate undesireable ones; consequently even if his data were clean (which it appears not to be) it could still be arriving at the wrong conclusion. All that

said, MMR is a crappy vaccine. It's not nearly effective as the monvalient equivalents (which are no longer available in the US) and the CDC recommended immunization schedule for MMR makes zero sense if the child was breastfed (it can take as much as 12 months for the effect of maternal antibodies to fall off enough for the reubella portion of the vaccine to promote an immune response). Lacking any other option we vaccinate our kids with MMR -- starting at age _six_. When the dust settles on this nightmare I suspect it will be found that the cause is environmental but that actual susceptability is a function of genetic variation -- the same thing that resulted in The Plague not being 100% fatal or only a small fraction of the population that is exposed to Coxsackie virus B4 developing diabetes. Statistically I no more expect the elimination of ethylmercury to stop autism than eliminating aluminum cookware would stop Alzhimer's, and until both camps

expand their horizons beyond "it's MMR/it's not MMR" I doubt we'll see significant progress toward understanding what _is_ causing the increased diagnosis rate.Report as unsuitable 52. Squeptique, Miami / 5:10pm 30 Jan 2007 Yes, diagnosis has improved thus more cases have come to light. As in everything to do with living organisms, genetic predisposition plays a large role, as do assaults on the immune system from the environment. Otherwise, that nasty Thimerosal -- the mercury preservative used in most or all early life vaccines -- would have made any & all who've ever had a vaccination autistic to one degree or another. Despite the voices saying otherwise, there

is reasonable doubt as to the safety of Thimerosal, & I've seen more than one instance in which the pharmaceutical cos. engineer tests so as to skew results in their favor. Until the true cause for the rise in the incidence of autism has been determined, the simple, moral, humane & logical solution would be to eliminate it from the vaccine, even though this will increase the cost of inoculating the public for the time-being. Down the road, the cost would be more than compensated for with the elimination of all sorts of public programs necessitated by the growing autism "epidemic." More importantly, we would be eliminating the inestimable loss of brain power that could otherwise be harnessed in this & future generations for the improvement of the lot of mankind.Report as unsuitable 53. Rulesbutnotrulers, East Lothian / 5:34pm 30 Jan 2007 #51 Wiley No coyote you! Thanks for that. A few facts never go amiss.Report as unsuitable 54. Autism Rights, Ayrshire / 5:45pm 30 Jan 2007 The hoary old chestnut of `improved diagnosis` has been trotted out yet again. The best statistics come from the USA and specifically California, and these do not include `higher functioning` children with an ASD, such as those with Asperger's Syndrome, some of whom would conceivably have merely been regarded as `odd`

in years gone by. These statistics still reveal a massive increase in the numbers of children with an ASD in the last 15 to 20 years. If we were talking about the rise in children's cancers, which have risen by about 30% over the past 40 years, we should be concerned. The studies done in the US and in the UK have revealed a 10-FOLD INCREASE (100% x 10) in the numbers of children being diagnosed with ASD OVER 10 YEARS. Subsequent statistics reveal a continuation of this increase. Even if this increase were a result of improvement in diagnosis, there ought to be some evidence of why that diagnosis should have so radically improved, given the statistics involved. There is absolutely no evidence that diagnosis of autism has `improved` - quite the contrary. In its reply to a PQ from Rosemary Byrne MSP , the Scottish Executive is unable to provide information about any improvements to the training of those making diagnoses,

which could justify such a claim*. On the other hand, parents report ever increasing difficulties in obtaining the correct diagnosis for their child within a reasonable timescale. We are generally of the opinion that these difficulties are intentional barriers to service provision, and fly in the face of Executive claims to provide `early intervention` in the education of autistic children. As can be seen, parents are having to pick up the pieces from a system that refuses to recognise their children's disability. As regards future statistics, the changes in gathering of statistics through the Additional Support for Learning Act mean that hope of comparing like with like at a school level across the years have been eliminated - most children with Asperger's Syndrome and even many with autism will not receive a Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP), the replacement for the old Record of Needs.* PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION Ms

Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the costs were of providing training in the diagnosis of autism in each year from 1999 to 2005, broken down by NHS board.(S2W-26127)Lewis Macdonald: Information about the costs of training in the diagnosis of autism is not held centrally.The Scottish Executive is supporting four training pilot projects in the use of diagnostic tools to develop expertise in diagnosis across a wider range of professionals.Report as unsuitable 55. IWright, Edinburgh / 5:49pm 30 Jan 2007 #43I think you're almost certainly right, if the Blairs had used the MMR I think they

would have made a fuss about it, they're not exactly publicity shy.Can someone answer ny qquestion earlier - what research is actually being done?Report as unsuitable 56. Signet, PA, MD USA / 5:50pm 30 Jan 2007 In the states a large increase in children affected by Autism seemed to be caused bychildhood vaccinations that were made in large batches to be given in multiple dose vials.(the insividual doses were apparently safe). The causative factor was a "preservative" with mercury.Report as unsuitable 57. Harry Carnie, British Columbia,Canada / 5:54pm 30 Jan 2007 #3 Wally.. #37 Prophit Good posts.There is NO "conspiracy" , just "normal " human stupidity and greed.(drug companies) As for Jesus punishing anyone...this (toxins in our environment)will come back to bite us all in the arse.It is already happening with cancer rates rising throughout the developed world.Report as unsuitable 58. IWright, Edinburgh / 5:57pm 30 Jan 2007 #57Childhood asthma has also seen a very large rise in rates of

diagnosis.Report as unsuitable 59. Autism Rights, Ayrshire / 6:12pm 30 Jan 2007 A parent has done their own survey of autism incidence:-http://www.autismuk.com/index30.htmHow incompetent can a government get? See also - http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-06/wa06...If there were large numbers of adults with autism out there, we could expect to find a number of them in mental institutions, given the historically abusive treatment of people with autism. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-06/wa05...AutismMs Rosemary Byrne (South of Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been spent on professional level courses on autism for Scottish teachers in each year since 1999.(S2W-25681)Robert Brown: The information requested is not held centrally.http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-06/wa05...AutismAlex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder reside in (a) the State Hospital, Carstairs, and (b) mental hospitals in each NHS board area and, of these, how many are aged (i) under 16, (ii) 16 to 18, (iii) 19 to 25, (iv) 26 to 40 and (v) 41 and

over.(S2W-25791)Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is not held centrally.See also:-http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-06/wa06...Autismandhttp://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-06/wa06...AutismAlex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with autism have been refused referral, consultation or treatment by (a) a gastroenterologist, (b) an immunologist or © a toxicologist in each of the last five years.(S2W-26573)Lewis Macdonald: This information is not held centrally.Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people with autism, with or without mental health problems in addition to their autism, have been confined

in mental health institutions in each of the last five years and what the (a) average and (b) longest length of confinement was for patients with autism in mental health facilities.(S2W-26574)Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is not available centrally.Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Health Scotland or its predecessor, the Public Health Institute of Scotland, have at any stage investigated the number of people with autism who are confined in mental health facilities.(S2W-26609)Lewis Macdonald: Health Scotland has not investigated the number of people with autism who are confined in mental health facilities. Information on patients discharged from psychiatric units and mental illness hospitals is collected through the Scottish Morbidity Record, SMR04.Report

as unsuitable 60. IWright, Edinburgh / 6:37pm 30 Jan 2007 #59Remarkable in the computer age and "information society" that we lack such basic data.Report as unsuitable 61. Alex Robinson, Scarborough, Yorkshire. / 7:16pm 30 Jan 2007 Autism is caused by Aspartame. Do some research into it at http://www.sweetpoison.com or even have a look at this one: http://www.relfe.com/Aspartame_92.html as that lists 92 symptoms related to it.Most people do not realise what a toxic addictive substance it is. It is a Neurotoxin, it effects the nervous system.No one is imune to chemical poisoning, No One!Report as unsuitable 62. Mandrake, Quebec / 7:33pm 30 Jan 2007 Is there research concerning build up dioxins, mercury, etc, in the children... especially in utero? The diet of parents over the past few decades - what with additives, preservatives and artificial sweetners, could also play its part. Remember, the whole world farmed organically before wwii Pesticides are

made from oil. Fertilisers from natural gas... something is wrong with the way we are forced to live. Of course i could be wrong and welcome critism.Report as unsuitable 63. www.scottwebb.co.uk / 7:50pm 30 Jan 2007 Great to see there are others waking up :)Report as unsuitable 64. www.scottwebb.co.uk / 7:54pm 30 Jan 2007 Here is a vid that is

also well worth the watching called the Fluoride Deception http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=731975204235208...Remember to click pause so it buffers a bit as they don't want you to see it :)Report as unsuitable 65. Alex Robinson, Scarborough, Yorkshire. / 7:58pm 30 Jan 2007 No critisism from here, I have just read the whole list of 60 posts, only one other person has mentioned Aspartame. Such is the lack of knowledge about this neuro-toxin. For Petes sake, why do they allow it to be used in the food chain? It contains

methanol, that breaks down into Formic Acid & Formaldehyde, (Embalming Fluid to you and me). No wonder so many kids suffer. It also causes Asthma. Look at how the amount of asthma sufferers have rissen since the wide spread introduction of aspartame (1995 ish.). I could go on about it all night, such is my hatred for the chemical. Wake up to what you put in your bodies!Report as unsuitable 66. www.scottwebb.co.uk / 8:06pm 30 Jan 2007 Comment@65 Alex, agreed mate.....the trouble is if you say too much at one time you get tirade of abuse by some.....i suppose i cant blame them....its the enormity of what were saying here,,that a lot cant get

their head round.....i mean lets face it...what were saying here is that the people we trust......are deliberately and systematically killing usReport as unsuitable 67. Mwaki_Mbaki, Montrose / 8:12pm 30 Jan 2007 Name your poison, Sir/Madam. Fluoride. Aspartame. MMR vaccine. Mercury. Aluminium cookware. Diesel fumes. Nuts (the kind that grow on trees or under the ground). Pollution. The tawse. Pesticides. Dioxins. Methyl alcohol. Formic acid (damn those ants!). Undertaking. Anyone willing to suggest Mobile Phones/digital TV? My nomination: I think it's because of all those nuclear bombs they're not letting off. Or Global Warming. Or

too much riding of hobby-horses. Or Globalisation or something.Report as unsuitable 68. Alex Robinson, Scarborough, Yorkshire. / 8:12pm 30 Jan 2007 You got it in one! (nice website btw.) Last year I contacted my local MP to get him to put his name on EDM 1517 (google it!) and he did. The chemical industry is not only killing people it is also ruining industry. Yorks' Sugar factory closed down with the loss of 600 or so jobs. The chemical industry marches on! Aspartame - the ONLY food additive to have to (by law) carry a health warning!Report as unsuitable 69. www.scottwebb.co.uk / 8:16pm 30 Jan 2007 i started researching into this 4 years ago and on the strength of what i found i went gaming http://ut2004stats.epicgames.com/index.php?stats=playersI collected over 50 odd gig of data all from different decades all 100% verifiable.......i was just cheesed of with my mates dropping like flies with diabetes, cancers, this war on terror and about a thousand other things going wrong.......and i wanted to know why. I know know and i wanted to help my mates and friends.....so for those that slag me off.call me nuts all you want......but go

research yourselves.....we are run by total scumReport as unsuitable 70. www.scottwebb.co.uk / 8:22pm 30 Jan 2007 Comment@68 Alex, thanks mate :)Report as unsuitable 71. Autism Rights, Ayrshire / 8:31pm 30 Jan 2007 For research papers, see:-http://www.greenpeace.to/publications.htmhttp://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/compromising_our_ch...http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/family_biomonitorin...http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/biomonitoringresult...http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/socialcostofchemica...http://www.wwf.org.uk/filelibrary/pdf/chinhumans.pdfhttp://www.ewg.org/reports/bodyburden2/part3.php - Health Effects of pollutants (EWG report on umbilical cord research)http://www.ewg.org/reports_content/bodyburden2/pdf/stmt_s... - the only microbiologist in Congress gives her view on what is happeningReport as unsuitable 72. Autism Rights, Ayrshire / 8:39pm 30 Jan 2007 http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/mar2005/2005-03-18-09.asp... - ENS Home - AmeriScan: March 18, 2005 - Environmental Mercury, Autism Linked by New ResearchSAN ANTONIO, Texas, March 18, 2005 (ENS) - For every 1,000 pounds of mercury released into the environment in

Texas counties there is a multiple-digit increase in the rate of autism, a study by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio has found. The study compared mercury totals reported for 2001 in the 254 Texas counties to the rate of autism and special education services in nearly 1,200 Texas school districts. The districts, which range from urban to small metro to rural, enroll four million Texas children. "The main finding is that for every 1,000 pounds of environmentally released mercury, we saw a 17 percent increase in autism rates," said lead author Raymond Palmer, Ph.D., associate professor in the Health Science Center's department of family and community medicine. Autism is a developmental disorder that varies in severity in individuals and is characterized by impaired ability to engage in normal social behavior and by behavior patterns such as repetitive motions and sounds. Autism is estimated to occur in as many as one

in 200 children and is reported to be rising in prevalence, although statistics vary. Palmer and his team note that the new research "has implications for toxic substance regulation and prevention policies. The effects of differing state policies regarding toxic release of mercury on the incidence of developmental disorders should be investigated." Large scale mercury exposures such as accidental spills long have been implicated with developmental disabilities, but this study is among the first to examine the relationship between potentially chronic, low-dose mercury exposure and a developmental disorder such as autism, Palmer said. Mercury is the third-most frequently found toxic substance nationwide, after arsenic and lead. Coal-burning power plants, which supply energy to cities and generally are in close proximity to population centers, release more mercury than any other source in the United States. Texas is fourth among the states in reported

mercury releases, after California, Oregon and West Virginia. Using statistical modeling, the researchers showed that increases in the rate of special education services were associated with higher mercury release levels. However, "it is the increase in autism that explains this relationship" in Texas, Palmer said. The authors cautioned that the study is an ecological investigation based on county level and school district data. This type of study does not lend itself to interpretation at the level of the individual. click link above for full articleReport as unsuitable 73. Autism Rights, Ayrshire / 8:48pm 30 Jan 2007 http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/dec2004/2004-12-20-09.asp...New Study Links Risk of Autism to Mercury in VaccinesWASHINGTON, DC, December 20, 2004 (ENS) - In a paper published this week in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," researchers at the University of Arkansas identified a signature metabolic profile in autistic children that suggests these children are more susceptible to the harmful effects of mercury and other toxic chemicals than or than other children or adults. Some vaccines given to infants and children are preserved with thimerosal, which is half mercury by weight, and parents worry that these vaccines, including flu shots, may trigger autism in their children. Now new evidence that strengthens that theory has been found. Lead author on the new study is Dr. Jill James of the University of Arkansas for Medical

Sciences. James served for 14 years as a senior research scientist with the Food and Drug Administration and is currently professor of pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Published in the December issue of the "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition," the purpose of the study was to evaluate the concentrations of eight metabolites in the plasma of children with autism.Report as unsuitable 74. Autism Rights, Ayrshire / 8:49pm 30 Jan 2007 http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/aug2003/2003-08-26-02.aspHair Study Shows Autistic Children May

Retain Mercury CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, August 26, 2003 (ENS) - Autism may be a form of mercury poisoning brought on by exposure to the mercury based preservative thimerosal in vaccines, according to new research published in the current issue of "International Journal of Toxicology," the official journal of the American College of Toxicology. The study provides the strongest clinical evidence to date supporting the theory that mercury exposure is tied to autism, a finding that is not a surprise to coauthor by Mark Blaxill, a director of Safe Minds, (Sensible Action For Ending Mercury-Induced Neurological Disorders). This nonprofit parents' organization was founded to investigate the continuing risks to infants and children of exposure to mercury from medical products, including thimerosal in vaccines. Blaxill, along with scientists Amy Holmes, MD and Boyd Haley, PhD, assessed mercury exposure levels among 94

autistic children and compared them with levels in 45 normally developing children in a control group. They found higher prenatal and postnatal exposures to mercury in the autistic group. Then the team took a new approach to measuring mercury distribution in the study subjects during infancy. They collected the first lock of baby hair that had been taken years earlier from each child to determine its mercury content. In a result that appears surprising at first, they found that the autistic hair mercury levels were only a fraction of that found in the hair of the control group. babyThis autistic baby prefers to play alone. (Photo courtesy Hope TLC)"Our findings might seem counterintuitive," says Blaxill, "but if you take into account the higher exposures of the autistic children, you quickly see that these reduced hair levels suggest that less mercury was being excreted by these babies.This is because mercury

must be in the blood in order to be taken up by the hair follicle," Blaxill reasoned, "and mercury must be in the blood in order to be eliminated from the body. If it's not in the hair, then it is not in the blood. And if it's not in the blood to be eliminated, more mercury is retained and available to cause neurological damage in infants who subsequently develop autism." The researchers found relatively high levels of mercury in the hair of normal infants. These levels appear to be a direct result of the number of mercury containing amalgam fillings in the mother, as well as the mother's fish consumption, during pregnancy. Many popular fish species contain high levels of mercury. These results appear consistent with the fact that mercury levels in women of childbearing age are already high. Infant vaccines containing tReport as unsuitable 75. Autism Rights, Ayrshire / 8:58pm 30 Jan 2007 A few links I have cut and paste for those with more questions:- FDA Does Not Have Effective Process For Monitoring Post-Market Drug Studies, GAO Report Sayshttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=42165 In Utero Exposure To Urban Air Pollutants Can Adversely Affect Child Developmenthttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=42278 http://women.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27869-2160119,0... - Autism and pollution: the vital link. The number of children with autism has risen dramatically in recent years. In a new book, Richard Lathe argues that pollution and environmental causes may be to blame Physicians' Nutrition Education Lacking, American Dietetic Associationhttp://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=42226 UK doctors are no different in this respect to those in the USA.Report as unsuitable 76.

Autism Rights, Ayrshire / 9:07pm 30 Jan 2007 As regards the SIGN guidelines on Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), referred to in the article - the SIGN committee on ASD, in their draft clinical guidelines on ASD, refused even to consider the well recognised benefits of dietary change, specifically the casein-free / gluten-free (GF/CF) diet. Instead they gave repeated and prominent promotion to the use of mind-altering drugs in the `treatment` of children with ASD. Here is some information about these drugs:- Risperidone is approved by the US FDA for the `treatment` of autism. It is an atypical antipsychotic - these are a new kind of antipsychotic that is now causing great concern because it is worse in its effects than the old antipsychotics, which also happen to be much cheaper. The study that initially researched the `benefits` of Risperidone for children with autism lasted a mere 8 weeks. Another study has pointed

to the extreme downside of putting children with a disability onto an extremely powerful drug, merely to control anxiety and aggression that is caused by inappropriate education, healthcare and social care:-http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/436/28- this study revealed that much of the scientific evidence for off-label use of antipsychotics was of insufficient quality because studies were too small or lacked scientific rigour. As for the effects of psychostimulants such as Ritalin or Strattera on children, drugs that are used to `treat` children labelled as ADHD and now proposed (at least in the draft SIGN guidelines) to `treat` children with autism, please go to this link:-http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/364/31/ A couple of sentences from SIGN's draft guidelines on ASD are

worth quoting:-`There are no controlled long term studies demonstrating that pharmacological interventions affect outcome in children and young people with ASD`.`There is no evidence directly comparing pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches.`QUITE - so why not play safe and recommend benign treatment such as dietary change, nutritional supplementation and other medical interventions appropriate to the needs of the child that are based on clinical tests of that individual child? So why not treat the chronic bowel disorders suffered by some children with ASD on an equal basis with other children? Could this have something to do with fear of liability, and with the desire by Big Pharma for Big Bucks?Report as unsuitable 77. Autism Rights, Ayrshire / 9:16pm 30 Jan 2007 Much more important than cash or loans for `honours` is the scandal of apparent collusion between our government and the pharmaceutical lobby, which leaves this most powerful lobby in a classic win-win situation, if, as most families with autistic children believe, vaccines are a contributory factor in the autism of some children with autism. Many of us are convinced that environmental toxins also play a large part in the `autism epidemic` - we agree with researchers at John Hopkins University in the US that, as ASD is a spectrum disorder, it is logical to assume that it may well have several causes. I have given many links to good information on websites about the known and suspected effects of environmental toxins on the development of the foetal brain. It has to be noted that the

pharmaceutical industry contributes to the release of environmental toxins into our environment. We will never discover the causes of autism whilst two thirds of medical research is funded by pharmaceutical companies, and while the cost of ONE properly funded research project (£2.5 million) is the sum total devoted by the Medical Research Council to research the causes of ASD. For all those who still trust the government to look after us - did you watch last night's Panorama programme on Seroxat and understand its implications? When even the litigants in the `gold standard` (most winnable) Vioxx case couldn't get legal aid to take a pharmaceutical company to court, what does this say about our democracy and society as a whole?Report as unsuitable 78. Tavish, South of the border / 9:35pm 30 Jan 2007 # 68 Alex RobinsonThere is a lot of suspiciion that Thimerosal (mercury) is implicated in triggering autism in those with a genetic predisposition to autism. Re: your comments about Aspertame - have you considered writing a page on this toxic sweetener for local web site: www.yorkshirehealth.co.uk/I'm fairly sure they would publish it, as they are currently compiling information of food additives and health risks.Report as unsuitable 79.

ddmc / 9:38pm 30 Jan 2007 it's funny how they push Fluoride as a savour of our teeth, especially as it gets scraped out of smoke stacks as a by product of alumiuim smelting or something like that. There are also studies which compared countries who add fluoride against countries that dont, the result was more cavities in countries that add fluoride.Check my post @ #25, big pharma only cares about their bottom line which is profit. There are countless cases where the research is either manipulated or quietly droppped in the shredder becuase it contradicts the pharma companies. It's worrying that Bush & co are trying to pass laws which protect the pharma industry from law suits even when blatent fraud is proven. until politicians develop a backbone to stand up against these powerful & rich companies it will only get worse. Scottweb i agree anyonne putting forward an alternative truth is labled a conspiricy nut as proved by the

ingnorant comments in this thread. But these people are usually the ones who believe that Govt & big business tell the truth :~).....Report as unsuitable 80. ddmc / 9:47pm 30 Jan 2007 beware any food products which use 'natural' colouring called cochnea, it's really crushed legs of cockroaches, but food additives are another story.....I missed last nights panorama but at least the majority of posts on this thread show that people are at last waking up to the true story of how the pharma & food industry are to blame for a lot of our ills, since giving up processed foods & taking natural supplements my health has increased dramatically, as i suffer from a rare

stomach disorder called gastroparesis, which has improved since i was diagnosed 6 years ago. The internet is a great research tool, the next time you go to the docs ask them what medical benefit drinking 2 litres of water a day is.Report as unsuitable 81. www.scottwebb.co.uk / 9:57pm 30 Jan 2007 I think JFK said it best so eloquently, a speech that in my view got him killed.....for having the guts to say what needed to be said http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RozLpBhiKgA & mode=relat...=And as usual google lowers the bandwidth..but click pause to buffer this short but

heart felt speechReport as unsuitable 82. ddmc / 10:21pm 30 Jan 2007 #65, it's of no surprise that the head of Serle who were the makers of Aspartme is none other than Donald Rumsfeld, who used his influence ( & money) to get the FDA to pass it as safe for humans even tho the FDA'a studies indicated the problems with Aspartme, recently on independant Italian researcher published fairly conclusive proof of it's dangers, but as usual the media ignore real stories & give us crap about jade goody & other non events like her, we have become apatheitic towards the abuses carried out by these greedy corporations. There are documented cases in the US where spouses

have been jailed for poisoning there partners with methanol which the prosecuters alledged that was put in their food/drink & the medical evidence to support the claim that it was caused by aspartme was suppressed. Nutra Sweet & the latest one Splenda are just as bad. Give me good ole raw cane sugar anytime. ;-)Report as unsuitable 83. Alex Robinson, Scarborough / 10:40pm 30 Jan 2007 DDMC, Tavish and Scottweb, thanks for the support. I have been anti-e951 for over ten years, ever since 'they' changed tango.Rumsfeld disease is recognised in the states. has an Aspartame support group, please join it. Autism Rights, you have done your

homework. I bet no one listens though. I wonder if the government get too many 'back handers' from chemical companies. Mercury amalgam fillings. My NHS dentist has started using a white 'plastic' filling as I found out at my last visit. Perhaps they know something we don't, like they cause autism.Report as unsuitable 84. grizzlyelda, here & there / 10:49pm 30 Jan 2007 for informed links on Autism uk and wordlwide see http://www.nas.org.ukReport as unsuitable 85. MarkB, USA / 11:09pm 30 Jan 2007 No wonder you're such a heroin/alcohol-addled country - you people display all the clear thinking of a turnip. I didn't read the whole thread - I'd tear my hair out if I did - but tell me; where do the Jews fit in? After all, the Jews are at the bottom of every good conspiracy.Report as unsuitable 86. Choosername / 11:09pm 30 Jan 2007 Might this statistic not correspond with the adoption of the Chorleywood Baking System as much as MMR vaccine or anything else?

Overprocessed food and its effects on the gut, including on the foetus during pregnancy, is what I'm thinking of. Diabetes and obesity rates are approaching epidemic levels too.Report as unsuitable 87. AnthonyJ, Perth Western Australian / 12:00am 31 Jan 2007 My son has ADS. At the age of 18 months he wasn't talking, was remote, had limited eye contact, no understanding or compliance, laughed and cried for no apparent reason. The paediatrician said wait 6 months and see what happens. We started speech, OT, Physio etc. Six months later there was no improvement. The paediatrician said wait another 6 months and see what happens. My wife and I realised that the only

advocates for our son were us. We did all the research and found ABA. (Paper Titled - children with autism deserve evidence-based intervention) www.mja.com.au/public/issues/178_09_050503/cou10054_fm-1.... He has only been doing ABA for 8 weeks and in that time he has gone from one word to over a hundred, spontaneously pointing at things and labelling them, making eye contact and wanting to engage with us in play. We can give him simple instructions and he understands them and complies. He has a long way to go but the improvements to date have been truly amazing. It doesn't work for every child but for our son it is opening up his world so that we are now a part of it. We were in denial for a while. There is a time to act and the younger the better the outcomes. Don't wait for help. There is no white knight coming to

save you. Use the internet.Report as unsuitable 88. sunshinegirl, USA / 5:09am 31 Jan 2007 From my own experience. We went through doc after doc who finally saw his condition and listened to our concerns. Is it being better diagonsed? I don't think so.Years of biomedical treatment, our non verbal HFA is speaking. Asking questions and reciating the Pledge of Allegance. After changing his diet eliminating wheat, dairy, soy and high phenol foods, he does not bang his head, scream in tantrums, hit and bite himself.Removing toxins from our home and electronics from his room has increased awareness and relaxed his sleep to an all night peaceful sleep without t he

midnight giggles.His treatment for the MMR , vit A treatments under a doctor's care had helped with bowel issues.The risk of my son dying from another immunization is a higher risk than not having followups. His reaction to previous immunization almost killed him. It is a choice that a parent must weigh and pray that he/she will not go through what we have had to.When the media is being basically fed by the Pharma Co. how is it that they can be objective in reporting the affects of immunization? Mercury - FDA approved - Kid Tested!Report as unsuitable 89. beyvoulffe, USA / 6:43am 31 Jan 2007 It appears that the "issue" of Autism, its cause, per se, will

continue to elude us--as is so often the case with issues whose resolution might affect the generation of profits, or profit making endeavours. Misinformation is the key or, more precisely, something I would refer to as "dualism': posited cause published on Monday, refuted on Wednesday, republished and mis-stated on Friday; refuted the following Monday... ad infinitum. You may insert your own time frame but the effect is the same: Business as usual: children continue to get their dose of MMR; Pharmaceutical Companies continue to show a profit, parents continue to be at a loss and the problem grows. Where is the cause for this effect? After twenty-odd-years of looking at the problem; with the tremendous resources available to the Industry and Academic Research organizations, how is it that we do not yet know? The Panglossian types who characterize the "growth" in the incidence of Autism as a growth in our ability to recognize Autism should be ignored and FEARED. A

twenty-five fold increase in the incidence cannot be a function of better observation! Perhaps one should take a different tack: Forgo the vaccine and take your chances. It seems the risks far outweigh the benefits in either instance. Human Beings are tough. We have advanced to this place and time in large part without "questionable" medical practices. What is the true cost of indemnifying (such as it is) ourselves and our children from the nominal risks of being alive? What other "security" will we sacrifice to trust--of a profit driven Industry? My wife and I made a choice twenty-five years ago: while under our care, none of our three children was vaccinated against anything. It was how we saw our role as parents and "advocates" for our children's welfare. They are all in their twenties now; healthy, despite having "suffered" through M, M, and R--vaccinated by Nature, as it were, and stronger for it. What they do to/with their bodies is now a matter of their

choosing; not ours and certainly not the State's, whose "advocacy" too often of late has rested with a healthy economy, at the expense of a healthy citizenry.Report as unsuitable 90. Sonya D, London / 9:30am 31 Jan 2007 Parents reports of infants changing after vaccination are so widespread, they cannot be dismissed. Time and again it's been shown that 'mother knows best'. Also ultrasound scanning in pregnancy, a massive uncontrolled experiment, can't be helping. (It's also resulted in a major loss of midwifery skills - the machine does all.) Scans duirng pregnancy are banned in some countries.Report as unsuitable 91. Prinzowhales, North Carolina / 3:12am 31 Jan 2007 I'm really disappointed that Martha did not post to take issue with the 'pop science' linking vaccines to autism. The bought dogs and scum, known as the Congress of the United States have, I believe gave Big Pharma a 'by' from lawsuits arising from vaccinations and have a fund to take care of the victims. They will admit no error--just as the swine at the Pentagon will not admit to the damage done by Depleted Uranium--because the lives and health of your children and your servicemen and yourselves are nothing to them but an expense if they admit their fault. It is always fifty years later that 'error' is

admitted...gee, maybe hormone replacement wasn't such a good idea--after millions of breast cancer deaths...maybe Agent Orange does hurt people...after the birth defects, the increased cancer rates and the pain and the misery of dealing with bureaucrats at the VA... but mercury is really good for you!! Especially if you inject into little babies and young children. You not only get to damage the child's neural development and ruin his life--you can also screw up his immune response to illnesses in the future. Normally Children's Protective Services would show up for this kind of abuse and cruelty!Report as unsuitable 92. Myke (aka Mike), USA / 2:37pm 31 Jan 2007 #48

Scotspatriot... indeed my comment was inflammatory; and I apologize for the tone of it. My point was lost because of the bad nature of the comment. I am certainly not contending that autism doesn't exist; that would be like saying the sun doesn't rise. Nevertheless it IS overdiagnosed. I have a business partner whose son was diagnosed as autistic when he was about 7 or 8. He just seemed a bit "preoccupied" to me but his parents were very concerned. Now the boy is 15 and is singing and acting in local theatre groups and interacts quite normally & actively with others. He does fine at school. I tend to get overly sarcastic about the current trend in Western culture to both over test and over diagnose. It is overwhelming the health care system. Again, my apologies to you and others who have legitimate issues.Report as unsuitable 93. mcewen, San Jose in Jolly Old California / 4:34pm 31 Jan 2007 I used to think that 'home schooling' was for those living in remote parts of the Mid-West or people with radical religious principals. Not only were this assumptions wrong, home schooling is becoming more common both at home {UK} and the States, and one of the most pressing reasons is to provide an appropriate individually tailored education for a child with special needs in a bully free environment. How special is your child?Best wisheshttp://whitterer-autism.blogspot.comReport as unsuitable 94. Squeptique, Miami / 5:42pm 31 Jan 2007 In re: Aspartame - supposedly, it IS going to be removed from the US market. It's a nasty brain-teaser & in a lot of people (including me) just a small dose causes a migraine-like headache w/left-sided tunnel vision, & some people are even temporarily blinded during their headache episodes. Re: Fluoride -- another nasty toxin that seems to be (quite unnecessarily) everywhere & in everything. Another health hoax. #85 - For shame! In senselessly attacking the Scots you seem to be holding up a mirror to our own American society. You must be a leftist liberal, the American species being particularly virulent in its attack against anyone with views other than its own.Report as

unsuitable 95. DoricQuine, scotland / 6:45pm 31 Jan 2007 Both my sons are autistic spectrum. Both were diagnosed back at a time when few were diagnosed and it was rare to have more than one in the family. For some yes diet can make a difference although it's not made any difference with my 2 sons. I could lay claim, as some do, as having 'cured' my eldest son. I haven't 'cured' him what i have done is helped him to change and adapt to living in what is considered a 'normal' world. He's gone from non verbal autistic to aspergers and most likely going to university in 2008 to study engineering ) Although he is extremely capable academically he does have many social problems. Not just social interaction but day to day living skills. Like being able to cook, wash, remember to

wear clean clothes, brush his hair, remember to actually eat, to cope with change. Am fortunate that he attends a base within mainstream secondary for pupils with aspergers/high functioning autism. I do believe that more bases the same should be opened in every major town and city in scotland to allow these children to fulfill their potential. Too many people in general presume that because you have special needs you must be stupid or thick. I taught both my sons to hug, to kiss, to shake someones hand and a lot of other social skills that we all take for granted. It's not easy but it can be very rewarding. My sons have both taught me a lot about life and made me a far stronger person than i ever was before. I don't know what caused them to be ASD and at times i don't really want to know. They are who they are and i love them regardless. However the massive increase does need investigating as it cannot all be down to better diagnosis by professionals. How people are

diagnosed today is no different to how it was back in the early 90s so there has to be some other factor causing this massive increase. I don't blame MMR for my eldest son as he had it before his MMR. My younger son became epileptic after his MMR but i don't know if it caused him to be autistic. I do know that he changed after the initial jab and he changed overnight after his booster from clam and placid to extremely aggresive. But i would never tell anyone to not give their child the MMR vaccineReport as unsuitable 96. ND37, Edinburgh / 7:24pm 31 Jan 2007 Check out www.thoughtfulhouse.com (in particular http://www.thoughtfulhouse.com/0405-conf-awakefield.htm) for news of Dr Andrew Wakefield's most up to date research & conference notes. Very interesting reading & good to know he continues to advocate for children with autism by continuing his research into the vaccines/autism debate. Also, approximately one-third of all children diagnosed with Fragile X syndrome have autism & Fragile X syndrome is the most common known single gene cause of autism. Children diagnosed with autism should be automatically screened for Fragile X to either confirm or rule out this genetic cause. For further info on Fragile X visit www.fragilex.org - there are specific links to autism on the home page.Report as unsuitable

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