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Autism: There's more of it, not just better detection
Special to Enviroblog by Sonya Lunder, EWG Senior Researcher
A study published earlier this week confirmed what parents of children with autism have argued for years--that the dramatic increase in autism cases is not solely based on better diagnosis at earlier ages. The study, performed by researchers at the U.C. Davis Medical Investigation of Neurological Disorders Institute (known as The M.I.N.D. Institute) confirms and expands earlier publications, finding increasing rates of autism in California children throughout the 1990s.
The study authors call for increased funding and research into the environmental causes of this disease, a call we wholeheartedly support. Author Irva Hertz-Piccoto claims that 10 to 20 times more money is devoted to researching genetic rather than environmental causes.
But while genes play some role in autism, genetics alone can't explain the rapid increase in new diagnoses. Investigating environmental factors could identify exposures that put kids at risk, thereby enabling parents and parents-to-be to proactively prevent relevant exposures.
Many gene and environmental exposures have been hypothesized to be linked to autism. Most convincing to us is the theory that a host of genetic vulnerabilities lead autistic children to have impaired methylation systems and increased oxidative stress. Since many environmental contaminants provoke oxidative stress, including air pollutants, pesticides, heavy metals and food additives, autistic children may be at greater risk to everyday exposures to pollution.
There are so many unanswered questions about autism, but (un)fortunately we can now put this one question to rest. I don't know what will come next in this saga, but encourage you to look for more great research out of U.C.Davis' M.I.N.D. Institute in the future. We think they're on the right track.
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It is long past time that research dollars were spent on researching the environmental factors leading to autism and associated preventative measures and cures. The University of Minnesota advocated for an autism research paradigm shift examining genetic and environmental factors and their interaction in causing autism in July 2007:
http://autisminnb.blogspot.com/2007/07/autism-research-paradigm-shift.html
Alas, Harold, the hoped-for U of M autism paradigm shift went nowhere. I read the draft proposal for the U's planned second autism department, which was needed because the first one is fixated on observing behaviors and tinkering with statistics rather than actually medically helping children and their families. Sadly the genes & pharma-fix mindset is too well established in the bureaucratic mindset, and job performance assessment is not tied to successful child treatment. Though hundreds of parents report children's regressions shortly after vaccine receipt, this information is denied by the cronyistic university culture, intertwined with Mayo and marketers.
Autism, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Disorder are all potential pitfalls when a child doesn't have proper child development. I think all families should be wary of this.
Symptoms of Autism and lead poisoning mimic each other. Inspect-A-Toy screens toys, jewelry and other consumer products in your home for the presence of the dangerous toxin lead. Inspect-A-Toy technicians come directly to your home, school, daycare facility, and retail store with their state-of-the-art, laboratory-grade, handheld X-Ray Fluorescence device. They are the only company in California that provides this extraordinary service. Please call 714-273-9047 to set up an appointment.
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/health&id=5828838