Foggy
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Member # 1584
posted
Autism rate in Calif. increases Fact undermines vaccination link
Associated Press / January 8, 2008 LOS ANGELES - Autism cases in California continued to climb after a mercury-rich vaccine preservative that some people blame for the neurological disorder was removed from routine childhood shots, a new study found.
Researchers from the state Department of Public Health found the autism rate in children rose continuously during the 12-year study period from 1995 to 2007. The preservative thimerosal has not been used in childhood vaccines since 2001, but is used in some flu shots.
Doctors say the latest study adds to evidence refuting a link between thimerosal exposure and autism risk and should reassure parents that the disorder is not caused by vaccinations. If there was a risk, they said, autism rates should have dropped between 2004 and 2007.
The findings show "no evidence of mercury poisoning in autism" because there was no decline in autism rates even after the elimination of thimerosal, said Dr. Eric Fombonne, an autism researcher at Montreal Children's Hospital, who had no role in the research.
Some advocacy groups blame thimerosal for the impaired social interaction typical of autism. Nearly 5,000 claims alleging a vaccine-autism link have been lodged with the federal government, which is deciding whether victims should receive compensation from a government fund.
Dr. Daniel Geschwind, a neurologist at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, said the focus now should be on searching for the causes of autism, such as possible genetic links.
"Something else must be at play and we need to know what that is if we're really serious about preventing autism," said Geschwind, who had no connection with the study.
For their study, California public health officials calculated the autism rate by analyzing a database of state-funded centers that care for people with autism and other developmental disorders. They found the prevalence of autism in children ages 3 to 12 increased throughout the study period.
For example, 0.3 per 1,000 children born in 1993 had autism at age 3, compared with 1.3 per 1,000 children born in 2003. Similar trends were found in other age groups.
"These time trends are inconsistent with the hypothesis that thimerosal exposure is a primary cause of autism in California," the researchers wrote.
Results were published in January's issue of the journal Archives of General Psychiatry. The study did not explore why there was an increase in autism cases.
Federal statistics show that about 1 in 150 children in the United States have autism, higher than previous estimates. Researchers say it is unclear if the increase is due to changes in how the disorder is classified or whether it is an actual spike.
Geraldine Dawson, the chief science officer for the advocacy group Autism Speaks, called the California research "a very important study," and said all possible causes - genetic and environmental - need to be explored aggressively.
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Foggy
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I still woudln't touch Thimerosol with a '10 pole. I've yet to see any articles about it's benefits.
Posts: 2451 | From Lyme Central | Registered: Aug 2001
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adamm
Unregistered
posted
But Lyme's still on the rise in Cali, and it seems autism may have
SForsgren
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Member # 7686
posted
I think the argument here is unproven and likely untrue. Autism is so much more diangosed today to media coverage, more doctors looking into it, etc. It is unreasonable to say that b/c the rate did not go down, it is supportive of vaccines not being an issue when personally I think they are, especially MMR. The logic here seems weak.
-------------------- Be well, Scott Posts: 4617 | From San Jose, CA | Registered: Jul 2005
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sparkle7
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posted
Maybe it's not so much 1 thing but the combination of things?
There's not much known about the combined effects of toxins in the environment, food, pesticides, chemicals, mercury in teeth, etc.
Posts: 7772 | From Northeast, again... | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I think I read somewhere that it isn't actually true that they've taken out the thimerosol from all the children's vacines, only some of them.
Also, there are other preservative/carrier ingredients in them like aluminum and antifreeze components that I believe are still in.
I also know that they are trying their darndest to come up with *any* studies and/or research that directs the blame for autism *away* from vaccines.
My vote is still with vaccines. I have gotten first hand information about this from a head nurse at one of the largest national health care providers as well as my own experience -- info that was quite damning that, unfortunately, I am bound by a NDA not to disclose.
My vote is still with vaccines.
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The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer. --- Edward R. Murrow Posts: 923 | From California | Registered: Aug 2005
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luvs2ride
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posted
While at my LLMD's yesterday, she had videos of an "Advanced Academy of Medicine" speech. He was talking about mercury and autism. Apparently studies are currently being done regarding this and are proving no connection.
The speaker blasted these studies and their falacies. Most interesting, he quoted a paragraph from Eli Lilly's medical data sheets where they found exposure to mercury both in young children and even babes in the womb brought about significant mental and motor skill disfunction. This information was in Eli Lilly's data sheets dated 1992.
They have known and acknowledged the connection for 15 yrs, so why are they trying to deny it now?
-------------------- When the Power of Love overcomes the Love of Power, there will be Peace. Posts: 3038 | From america | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Did anyone ever stop and think maybe its not the mercury but the vaccines themselves. In 1980 children were giving an average of 8 vaccinations and autism rates were 1:10000. Today by the time they are 4 or 5 are given over twenty and the rates are 1:150. Have they really done long term studies of the effects of this vaccine on top of this vaccine and then add this vaccine and some more of vaccine number 1, etc, etc?
If the mercury research is accurate the proof is in the pudding. No mercury in the vaccines and the autism rates are actually increasing not decreasing.
If I were a betting man I would say autism is infectious. There is a virus or bacteria maybe even unidentified as the underlying cause.
I would be more concerned about the connection of Lyme to Autism. Look at when Autism started to increase after 1980 and then look at when the Lyme numbers started to increase same time period.
[ 09. January 2008, 10:06 AM: Message edited by: duke77 ]
Posts: 649 | From United States | Registered: Dec 2003
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Foggy
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posted
quote:Originally posted by duke77: If I were a betting man I would say autism is infectious. There is a virus or bacteria maybe even unidentified as the underlying cause.
I would be more concerned about the connection of Lyme to Autism. Look at when Autism started to increase after 1980 and then look at when the Lyme numbers started to increase same time period.
Could be: Remember how many MDs were initially chastised when they hypothosized that ulcers were of infectious etiology?
The study neglects to examine the foibles of vaccines given to immunocomprimised patients whose systems may store Hg or be adversely effected.
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