Scientific Link to Autism Identified

[Sage]

JACKSON, N.J., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- During its research into the application of neuroscience in business, a New Jersey based think tank, The Center for Modeling Optimal Outcomes®, LLC (The Center) made an inadvertent and amazing discovery.

The Center examined the neuroscientific dynamics of logic and emotion in decision making while researching neuroscience in business. They found unique corollary relationships between various brain chemicals (neurohormones, neurotransmitters, etc.). This apparent pattern led to a new path of research for the team outside of business. By looking at extensive scientific literature they discovered a cascade of hormones that emanate from the brain (hypothalamus). This same pattern of correlations was again apparent throughout the cascade. The group added a research biologist and started to test the pattern on genes (proteins). It remained consistent. The Center then called upon advisors from chemistry and physics to see if the pattern would apply in physical sciences.

Highlights from the full article (page 2)

Through the application of their model, it became apparent that autism is an outcome of several variables that, when the homeostatic relationship of each one is disrupted, a "perfect storm" scenario results in autism. The application of the model identified several of the variables that account for why boys have a 4 to 1 ratio of instances over girls as well as why not every boy is affected.


While the scientific community will have to validate The Center's findings, the model for assessing homeostatic relationships indicates the "trigger" behind autism is an imbalance between a pair of amino acid neurotransmitters; glutamate and glycine.

Autism was one of most difficult illnesses The Center had attempted to analyze. If it hadn't been for so many parents insisting that vaccines were responsible for the condition, we might never have found the fact that the stabilizer in MMR and a few other vaccines is hydrolyzed gelatin; a substance that is approximately 21% glycine. It appears that, based on readily verifiable science, the use of that form of glycine triggers an imbalance between the amino acid neurotransmitters responsible for the absorption rate of certain classes of cells throughout the body.

Full article: Date:18/11/2009
Scientific Link to Autism Identified (oup was able to formulate a scientifical...)

[Lulu]

Wooow

[Glamourcide]

So, it's this glycine that they think is respsonsible for the link? Do all MMR vaccines have glycine in them or can you get one that doesn't contain it?

[Pretty Butterfly]

OMG finally. I wonder which other vaccines have it??

My first thought too......

[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!

[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.