There is an interesting debate going on nowadays about the "link" between vaccines and autism. Check out this news story: http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/03/24/autism.vaccines/index.html Frankly, I don't get how parents and the general populace can think they know more than scientists and physicians. There is OVERWHELMING evidence that the benefits of vaccines vastly counter-balance the risks, and that the emergence of autism after a vaccine is nothing more than coincidence. Take for example the preservative thimerosal that used to be used in vaccines. It contains a tiny, tiny bit of mercury (not enough to be dangerous in any way), and no study has ever shown a legit link between thimerosal and autism. Despite this, parents complained and sued enough that it is no longer used as a preservative in childhood vaccines. This is the reason certain vaccines can't be shipped to third-world countries now for widespread use. All over a fear, that while not necessarily irrational, has been proven wrong. So I guess my main point is that until we see a reputable study that proves otherwise, vaccines do not cause autism, and it is ridiculous that parents can sue, etc. There is nothing wrong with pushing some more studies, but so far the science has been pretty one-sided. What do you guys think?
Nobody is sure of the source. It could be genetics, it could be a certain environmental series of events, or reallly anything.
It is genetics, to an extent. I remember reading an article about Mongolian (or of some such ethnicity) nomads whose population of autistic and otherwise deformed children had skyrocketed because of incest. I think that's it really. In the world we live in today, it's much easier to travel the world, and therefore much easier to mix different genetic traits. It's only a matter of time before the traits being mixed become the same.
Their concern is only partly irrational. What really happened was an exagerration by media sources about the effects and amounts of mercury in these vaccinations. I've never read any medical studies that have indicated mercury in vaccinations as a possible source of autism, but I have definitely seen papers on its being caused by genetics. I've heard of cases where two parents had eight children who all had Autism. First of all, that's clearly a genetic cause, and secondly STOP HAVING KIDS IF THEY'RE ALL AUTISTIC! I would think after two you would've figured it out. Autism is not a disease, its a disability, and is also a gift in disguise. Two of the most brilliant people I know are autistic. One is a math wiz and the other is a musical genius.
I agree the autism can be a gift if they use right. I lot of help come from the parents as long as they are supportive and stuff like that. I also think we need to do a bunch more research on it but people wont cause it wont kill you. We care about aids and cancer cause they kill you. Nothing else really matter to the vast majority of the population.
I think most of the masses overreact because they don't bother to become informed before attacking something.
I'm kind of baffled by Autism. I mean Autism... What can I say... It just doesn't seem human. I think like were starting to mutate into telepathic people. Like in Starcraft! But on a serious note, Autism is just sad. How come the kids can't talk? Do they have mental problems? Or are they just plain stupid? I'm kind of angry that nothing can be done about Autism.
Autism...that would be the thing that lets kids make a thousand basketball shots in a row, wouldn't it?
way to use wikipedia!!!! autism sucks big time cause it is genetic but it not the worst thing that could happen to you. in the least bit. some people call it a gift because there are a lot of great musicians and other things that are really good people. its pretty sweet i think besides that is autism.
