M.I.N.D. You, There Are More Cases of Autism

There’s been a seven- to eight-fold increase of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) cases in California since 1990.

I’ve suspected that the rise in diagnoses of ASD is linked to many factors, one of them better detection. You, too? Not so, says a new study.

“It’s time to start looking for the environmental culprits responsible for the remarkable increase in the rate of autism in California…We’re looking at the possible effects of metals, pesticides and infectious agents on neurodevelopment,” said researcher Irva Hertz-Piccoto.

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The UC Davis M.I.N.D (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute study took data from 1990 through 2006 in databases of the California Department of Developmental Services, which coordinates services for individuals with specific developmental disorders.

Here’s the lowdown on what they found:

• The diagnoses of autism by age six in California has increased from fewer than 9 in 10,000 for children born in 1990 to more than 44 in 10,000 for children born in 2000.
• Age-specific incidence rates increased most steeply for 2- and 3-year-olds.
• Less than 1/10 of the rise in autism diagnoses can be explained by the inclusion of milder cases of ASD.
• Only 24% of the cases can be explained away by earlier age at the time of diagnosis.
• The rise in ASD cases are not linked to a more diverse California, as the disorder affects different ethnic groups at about the same rate.

These are fairly small percentages compared to the size of the increase that we’ve seen in the state, said Hertz-Piccolo.

I agree that the environmental factors must be studied better. Certainly, genetics may play a role. But I suspect that the heavy metals in our environment, building up in mamas’ bodies before we give birth, may affect our offspring along with the gene pool and oft-demonized vaccines.

Though mercury is no longer found in the required child vaccines (or only found at trace levels), it is found in many brands of the flu shot. And we certainly can’t discount the effects of other heavy metals, such as aluminum and other excipients. The always articulate Dr. Sears believes these preservatives should be studied further, while giving parents the freedom of a slower vaccination schedule to ease our worries.

Lucky for me and my little guys, we have a family practitioner who welcomes the vaccine discussion and supports our decision to delay most vaccines.

Because until we narrow down the environmental factors for autism, many parents will take any precaution they deem necessary to easy their worries.  Myself included.

Once again, from Hertz-Picciotto:

Right now, about 10 to 20 times more research dollars are spent on studies of the genetic causes of autism than on environmental ones. We need to even out the funding.

The study is published in the January edition of the journal Epidemiology.

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