A Genetic Clue to Why Autism Affects Boys More

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by ThetaPrincess24

As someone who used to give vaccines several times a day, 5-6 times a week, most vaccines now dont even have mercury in them as a preservative even at low levels. It is correct (atleast as of my resignation last year) that a couple of the vaccines still have mercury in them but the levels are so low coupled with the fact of the age in which they are given, it wouldnt have any effect on the incidence of autism. MMR, for example is not even given until the age of 1 year and the second time at the age of 4. Other vaccines are scheduled in boosters at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months of age with the exception of Hepatitis B which is first given at birth in the state of KY).

I dont think the rise of autism has anything to do with vaccines. I think it has to do with the overwhelming amount of preservatives/chemicals in our foods.

Do you think that it might have nothing to do with anything but being able to diagnose it more accurately and having more advances in "treatment" (by that I mean coping skills and what not) and other diagnostic methods? I'm thinking that it has always existed, but there wasn't a name for it as much knowledge as we have now, so it appears to be on the rise but potentially just wasn't diagnosed.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

Do you think that it might have nothing to do with anything but being able to diagnose it more accurately and having more advances in "treatment" (by that I mean coping skills and what not) and other diagnostic methods? I'm thinking that it has always existed, but there wasn't a name for it as much knowledge as we have now, so it appears to be on the rise but potentially just wasn't diagnosed.

Ding ding ding...You win a prize!

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Ding ding ding...You win a prize!

Well I did receive a BS in psychology last weekend, and took a class about Abnormal Psychology of Children and Adolescents where we had a lot of information about autism as Idaho has some excellent programs in their schools for children who have been diagnosed.

I am already using what I learned in college, YAY!

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

Well I did receive a BS in psychology last weekend, and took a class about Abnormal Psychology of Children and Adolescents where we had a lot of information about autism as Idaho has some excellent programs in their schools for children who have been diagnosed.

I am already using what I learned in college, YAY!

Congratulations on your new degree! I assume that you also learned the difference between association and causation...something that many people don't really get.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Congratulations on your new degree! I assume that you also learned the difference between association and causation...something that many people don't really get.

It is not my first degree, but since I was a transfer student I realized I could get another one by taking a couple classes, and if I registered full time then I got scholarship/grant money and it cost less to go to school full time than part time.

I was required to take more than one class on research design and methods. I'm setting up my research for my thesis so I am having a fun time making sure I am being ethical to get my paperwork through the IRB/Human Assurances. Luckily I am not asking about sex, drugs, or rock and roll, nor do I want their names or gender, so it should be approved quickly.

There are lots of different illnesses/conditions etc. that have a higher incidence in one gender over another, say colorblindness or breast cancer, which are being explained by more genetic research. Autism falling into that makes sense. The presentations in my class had a woman (in her 20s) with three boys, all who had autism, but not the same kind of symptoms in each. Really fascinating to see within one family. They didn't all present the same, and I'm pretty sure she has been contacted for research. Watching the three boys in the classroom was a real eye opener.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by VandalSquirrel

Do you think that it might have nothing to do with anything but being able to diagnose it more accurately and having more advances in "treatment" (by that I mean coping skills and what not) and other diagnostic methods? I'm thinking that it has always existed, but there wasn't a name for it as much knowledge as we have now, so it appears to be on the rise but potentially just wasn't diagnosed.

I hadnt thought of that but thinking back on other illnesses, I think this as a potential reason is quite valid!

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

People want answers. Unfortuntely, medicine doesn't have the answer to everything. I do understand that many don't trust researchers, but the only study that showed a link between vaccines and autism was fraudulent. I think that we will SLOWLY unravel what is going on here....maybe by figuring out the REAL diagnoses. Autism is like Cancer. It's a lumped together diagnosis that can have a zillion different causes, some genetic and some enviromental, as well as a zillion different treatments. Breast Cancer is different than pancreatic cancer or prostate cancer or brain cancer, etc. None of these are caused by the same gene or treated with the same regimen. Right now, there are too few cases to get much meaningful research. What people do need to understand about research is that no matter who is funding it, the people doing the actual research do WANT to figure out what is going on. There is no grand conspiracy to hide the cause of autism so that more kids can be "infected" by continued use of vaccines.
My main argument against just letting parents continue blaming vaccines is that it takes the focus away from finding out what is really behind this disorder.

AOII Angel, what you've said mirrors almost exactly how I -- with no medical credentials other than a brother who is an MD -- have looked at. I agree completely.

I tend to the think of it as a "perfect storm" scenario. My hunch is that there are genetic factors that make a person more likely to end up on the spectrum. Throw in the right combination of environmental factors early in life and the genetic factors are triggered. But with something as varied as autism, I don't think it's going to be one set of genetic factors or one set of environmental factors -- like your cancer comparison, I think it's much more compicated and varied than that.

I think that, as someone who, by virtue of my own family situation, interacts with more parents of kids on the spectrum than the average person might, I was just trying to reflect what I observe about why some parents hold onto the vaccine idea so strongly or are distrustful of what they might call the "establishment." Like I said, I don't agree with them, and I don't see what good is being done by their attitudes, but I can see how they got there. That's all.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

People want answers. Unfortuntely, medicine doesn't have the answer to everything. I do understand that many don't trust researchers, but the only study that showed a link between vaccines and autism was fraudulent. I think that we will SLOWLY unravel what is going on here....maybe by figuring out the REAL diagnoses. Autism is like Cancer. It's a lumped together diagnosis that can have a zillion different causes, some genetic and some enviromental, as well as a zillion different treatments. Breast Cancer is different than pancreatic cancer or prostate cancer or brain cancer, etc. None of these are caused by the same gene or treated with the same regimen. Right now, there are too few cases to get much meaningful research. What people do need to understand about research is that no matter who is funding it, the people doing the actual research do WANT to figure out what is going on. There is no grand conspiracy to hide the cause of autism so that more kids can be "infected" by continued use of vaccines.
My main argument against just letting parents continue blaming vaccines is that it takes the focus away from finding out what is really behind this disorder.

Originally Posted by MysticCat

AOII Angel, what you've said mirrors almost exactly how I -- with no medical credentials other than a brother who is an MD -- have looked at. I agree completely.

I tend to the think of it as a "perfect storm" scenario. My hunch is that there are genetic factors that make a person more likely to end up on the spectrum. Throw in the right combination of environmental factors early in life and the genetic factors are triggered. But with something as varied as autism, I don't think it's going to be one set of genetic factors or one set of environmental factors -- like your cancer comparison, I think it's much more compicated and varied than that.

I think that, as someone who, by virtue of my own family situation, interacts with more parents of kids on the spectrum than the average person might, I was just trying to reflect what I observe about why some parents hold onto the vaccine idea so strongly or are distrustful of what they might call the "establishment." Like I said, I don't agree with them, and I don't see what good is being done by their attitudes, but I can see how they got there. That's all.

Both of these are largely in line with what I've heard from a family member who has a couple of decades of experience working with kids on the spectrum. The vaccination talk, at the end of the day, takes away from research that might actually help find some answers.

ETA: These days you have more experts on autism, more tools (like IEPs) that allow early identification and avoid lumping those on the spectrum with others who have more general learning/developmental disabilities, and in some districts, more of a support system in place to help parents. I think all of those factors help to explain why there are more cases being recognized.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Both of these are largely in line with what I've heard from a family member who has a couple of decades of experience working with kids on the spectrum. The vaccination talk, at the end of the day, takes away from research that might actually help find some answers.

And it leads to kids not getting vaccinated for some pretty serious illnesses.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

And it leads to kids not getting vaccinated for some pretty serious illnesses.

Yeah, there's that as well...not sure how I forgot that aspect of it.