Scientific Link to Autism Identified

[HotI]

From the article, it sounds like another theory which they haven't yet proven. Nice story, but i will be more interested when they test their 'model' and publish it in a peer review journal.

[tenar]

Without publication in a peer reviewed journal, this article is meaningless. Anyone can post something on the web anytime they like, and that doesn't make it science.

If hydrolysed gelatin (whatever that is - can a chemist comment on that?) in vaccines is responsible for autism, then all of the research looking for a connection between vaccines and autism would show a statistically significant link (ie more kids who are vaccinated would have autism).

In fact no such link has been found, even though extensive studies, of literally hundreds of thousands of children, have been made to check this and to allay the fears of parents. If you vaccinate your child, they are no more likely to have autism than if you don't vaccinate your child. The only thing that changes is that an unvaccinated child is more likely to catch a serious illness.

All the pseudo-science in the world (and given that this result has not been published in any journal, it appears, let alone a high-ranking peer-reviewed journal it does seem like it isn't actual science at all) won't find a link between two things if the link does not exist...

I would love for researchers to understand the causes of autism as much as the next person. All this chasing of disproven connections between vaccinations and autism makes me angry because it is such a massive waste of resources that could go into actually treating people with autism or into research that is more likely to produce results and find a prevention or cure for the condition.

[Artechim]

As others have said, articles like this mean nothing until published in a peer review journal.

The terminology used makes it sound more chemical/technical/scary, but hydrolyzed gelatine is just another name for normal everyday gelatine - the same stuff you make jelly with. It is used as a filler in a heap of things, from antacids to make-up and as a thickener in jams, lollies etc. It is food additive number E441. Glycine is a by-product of gelatine and is used as an artificial sweetener and is present in vitamin tablets, sports drinks and analgesics.

I would assume that if it were the Gelatine in the vaccinations causing autism that there would be a similar trend of higher autism rates in babies that have regular antacid medication for reflux and in babies born to mothers who consumed vitamins during the pregnancy.

Speaking as a chemist, this report doesn't appear to hold much water. But the writer is to be congratulated on making it sound fancy, it does have a wow factor.

[Lulu]

I read it as lysine wtf?

In any case my theory is one of a 'perfect storm' variety...just not sure of the components!

[paradise lost]

Can i even be bothered to roll my eyes.....nope.

Another crazed cry of "oh my god it's the VACCINES" from the ill-educated.

Non-scientific, hopelessly flawed and utterly meaningless.

Here is a link to wiki so everyone can read about glycine.

[Winter]

Can i even be bothered to roll my eyes.....nope.

Another crazed cry of "oh my god it's the VACCINES" from the ill-educated.

Non-scientific, hopelessly flawed and utterly meaningless.

Here is a link to wiki so everyone can read about glycine.

I think I love you Paradise Lost!!! You say it like it is!! I'm so Y.A.W.N about all these "scientific" papers too.

[Inanna]

I don't get from that article that the author is ill educated... Nor do I think that those that consider there may be a link between autisim and MMR are ill educated. I am one of those - & ill educated I am not!

I find this an interesting article & could never be so **** sure that I would discount it. It's interesting to read, to file & wait and see what comes from it.

Having a child who reacted severely to MMR & is now on the autistic spectrum I find all information interesting... Thankyou for sharing it.

[Glamourcide]

The terminology used makes it sound more chemical/technical/scary, but hydrolyzed gelatine is just another name for normal everyday gelatine - the same stuff you make jelly with.

Hah, well there you go then Thank-you! I haven't done any vacc research since DD1 was due for hers, I figure I've probably missed a whole bunch and maybe they'd changed the ingredients of some vaccines since I last checked, so yeah, this article and its fancy wording had me a bit stumped for a minute. I feel like a total douche now hahaha
I'm with Maz though... do we really need a scapegoat? Blaming this, that or the other doesn't help a child who is on the spectrum... sure, if a 'cause' can be determined that could prevent children suffering, I'm all for it, but most of the vax arguments I hear sound more like scaremongering to me (and yes, in this case I nearly fell for it! Oops!).

[sas85]

As others have said, articles like this mean nothing until published in a peer review journal.

The terminology used makes it sound more chemical/technical/scary, but hydrolyzed gelatine is just another name for normal everyday gelatine - the same stuff you make jelly with. It is used as a filler in a heap of things, from antacids to make-up and as a thickener in jams, lollies etc. It is food additive number E441. Glycine is a by-product of gelatine and is used as an artificial sweetener and is present in vitamin tablets, sports drinks and analgesics.

I would assume that if it were the Gelatine in the vaccinations causing autism that there would be a similar trend of higher autism rates in babies that have regular antacid medication for reflux and in babies born to mothers who consumed vitamins during the pregnancy.

Speaking as a chemist, this report doesn't appear to hold much water. But the writer is to be congratulated on making it sound fancy, it does have a wow factor.

Thank you for clarifying that - I was wondering the same thing when I saw gelatine and was about to zip an sms to a pharmacist I know and ask.

I personally don't believe in any 'links' between illnesses/occurrences and possible causes when there are too many variables to take into account as to other contributing factors that could have caused it. Especially without any proof from the scientific community at large- but my heart goes out to parents who are searching for a reason their child has a problem and I understand their need for an answer, or the fear of causing a problem by doing something unwittingly to your child which is why some parents don't vaccinate.

I do vaccinate as someone who has seen the results of children with measles encephalitis (so a different kind of fear) and as part of what I perceive as my social responsibility, and I worry more that some of my anti-vax friends children could pass on something when my bub hasn't come of the age to get that shot yet. I do hope they do more research on a potential link however, clearly there's a want for the information - if for nothing else but perhaps they can conclusively prove it isn't a contributing factor - it certainly can't hurt to have some more research either way.

[Inanna]

I have had a different experience Sarah - because of what I saw & experienced I chose to delay immunisations in my oldest daughter... I too have seen just what happens (albeit in 3rd world countries) when the "herd" is not immunised. So for me it was a really difficult step to choose not to immunise.

However, I have seen to much to discount that immunisation may play a part in ASD. I have read too much antectdotally, I have worked with Drs who have this concern, I have read enough to be worried. I have witnessed enough to be worried.

It troubles me that it could even be thought that finding an answer is about blame - it's about safety for me.

I have had 3 separate efforts at immunising myself against HEPB. I worked in an area where having cover for HepB was important. I wouldn't sero convert. My body didn't recognise the immunisation. We don't know why, studies have been done... The theory is that because of this perhaps I have natural immunity. It's a theory - but because it's a theory of Professors it's accepted as most likely.

I lost 3 mid trimester babies. I am an "enigma' because I have a condition that mimicks Antiphospholipid syndrome - but the results don't conclude that... However, it's decided by the "experts" that that's what I have and I should take all precautions as if my blood work agreed.
I concluded this after I lost my 2nd baby - but nobody would listen. The "tests" said I didn't have a clotting disorder...

Clotting disorder I have - so much so that a cardiac bloodvessel occluded by a clot almost did me in 72 hours post operatively after c/section. The same condition did so again during a recent hysterectomy.

We have no blood results to back this up - but the "experts" agree I have something very wrong that we have no name for. Science does not have all the answers. But thankfully we have people who work hard, research and champion for an answer.

Do those that think the suspected link by some between vax & ASD really believe that science always has the anwers? I have a scientific mind. I love science. I love that there is a reason for almost everything. Except sometimes the reason is yet to be uncovered.

Like Saram I felt the comments were harsh & they did sting me also...
Today I was at a large shopping centre with Immy. It was bedlam in the pre Christmas shopping spree... There was a lovely young Mama with her 2 little boys. One was having a melt down. He was banging his head on the floor - the Mamam was crying. I offered my help - & I went and got her a drink of cold juice... She was exhausted. Her little boy was autistic & of course the shopping centre is a terrible place for autistic children - she had no help or support so she just had to take him. In time he calmed & the window opened where he felt peaceful... I left them to it.

It's a tough life for Mamas & Dads of ASD kids. It's tough for them to - the turmoil the over stimulation.

I wish I had the answer - and clearly I don't. However, do you think we should just accept it as one of those things? Or perhaps search for whys & possible prevention?

I hope for the latter - & won't it be wonderful if it's not vaccination. Won't it be wonderful if it is not from the processed lactose in milk or the complex protein in gluten... Won't it be wonderful if it is somthing much more simple...

[tenar]

The research looking for a link between autism and vaccination has already been done, (and is probably still being done). Huge studies, looking at, for example, all 500,000+ children born in Denmark between 1991 and 1998, have not found any such link. Stopping giving MMR vaccines in Japan has not decreased the rate of increase of autism there. And so on: there have been many studies made of this stuff. If there were a link, no matter how obscure or how weird the actual causality was, these studies would pick it up.

I know it's hard to understand, or hard to believe, when you have a child who reacted badly to a vaccine and was then diagnosed with autism. But life is full of weird coincidences that are just that: coincidence. That's why we use large scale studies, to figure out the coincidences from the things that are actually causal and not coincidence at all.

[Inanna]

I disagree Tenar, that there have been no studies that do not make a link.
You are looking at it all through scientific glasses and as I have pointed out there is a plethora of issues that cannot be proved or disproved by science.

Recently in Brisbane there was a cancer cluster at a radio station. Science discounted it had anything to do with the towers nearby, or building materials. It was just as you said "weird coincidence"..

Telling that to the women who lost their breasts and the men who lost their testes is bitter medicine.
All the studies proved that it was a coincidence... Until... One fiesty little reporter began uncovering bits and bobs. Now, it's not so discounted. But oh the uproar! Because it might mean litigation!

I wonder what litagious outcomes would occur should a connection between vax and ASD be proved? I wonder what lengths would be gone to to prevent that???