An article in the July 31st American Journal of Human Genetics suggests that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are “common in the general population.” According to the study, one in 200 people has a DNA mutation that could potentially cause a mitochondrial disease in them or in their offspring. Mitochondrial disease is (according to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation (UMDF) ) a “devastating and often fatal disease, and mitochondrial disorders are at the core of many well known diseases and chronic illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and autism spectrum disorders.” Mitochondria are the body’s main energy source; are in …read more

According to the claim that vaccines or something in vaccines can be linked to autism—the source of much discussion and dissent for most of my son’s life—-autistic persons are “damaged” and “injured”; they were once “normal,” “typical” and “ok.” The notion that vaccines or mercury poisoning are the cause of autism not only poses some potential health hazards, but also creates an image of autistic children and adults as “less than [the rest of us]” due to a short; as “damaged goods.” Whereas, genetic studies on the causes of autism suggest that, far from being an “accident” that befalls an …read more

Ever since March when the government conceded that vaccines had “aggravated” a pre-existing mitochondrial disorder and led to symptoms of autism in a 9-year-old girl, Hannah Poling, whether there’s any link between mitonchondrial disorders and autism has been under questions. Is there a “subpopulation of mitochondrial autism“?, Hannah Poling’s father, Dr. Jon Poling has asked. Researchers at Medical Neurogenetics have said they have found evidence of a genetic link and mitochondrial disease. Anecdotally, I’ve heard parents of autistic children seeking out tests for mitochondrial disorders.
In the June 28th New York Times, Gardiner Harris (who has previously reported on vaccines and …read more

It was not unpredicted and it has happened again.
David Kirby is again rebranding autism in his latest post about fever, vaccines, and mitochondrial autism. Now it’s “vaccine-induced mitochondrial regression” and even something like “Mute Fever” (a “folksy” name that Kirby comes up with on the side, for reasons noted below). Over a year ago, he rechristened autism as Environmentally-Acquired Neuroimmune Disorder” or “E.N.D.”; more recently, it’s been “vaccine-aggravated mitochondrial disorder” and also “autistic encephalopathy.” Kirby seems to constantly change what he calls autism to suit the latest studies, findings, and documents available about autism, vaccines and (in particular) vaccine-related injuries. …read more

To read an article about the MMR vaccine and autism in today’s Telegraph, you’d think there was plenty of reason for the “debate” to be “reignited” thanks to Senator John McCain talking about an “autism epidemic”; recent statements about US health officials being too quick to dismiss arguments about vaccine as a cause of autism by Dr. Bernardine Healy; the case of Hannah Poling, in which the government conceded that vaccines “aggravated” an underlying mitochondrial disorder in Hannah and led to symptoms of autism; and a recent poster presentation at IMFAR about a study in which …read more

It seems that journalist David Kirby, who writes regularly about vaccines/mercury/something environmental as the cause of autism, will be at a special briefing at the Houses of Parliament on June 4. That’s the very same day as the Green Our Vaccines rally, which is sponsored by Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), Generation Rescue, HEAL Foundation – Healing Every Autistic Life and Moms Against Mercury. The rally’s to be held in Washington, DC: Looks like June 4th (which is the birthday of Socrates, Aesop, and the first Ford) is going to be “do vaccines cause autism?” sort of day …read more

Paul Offit, M.D., chief of infectious diseases at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and professor of pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He is frequently quoted regarding the controversy over a vaccine-autism link; he emphasizes the importance of vaccines for public health. Dr. Offit is, accordingly, not exactly a beloved figure among those who claim that there is a link between autism and vaccines and has even been the recipient of death threats.
In the May 15th New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Offit revisits the case of Hannah Poling in light of the recent history of the …read more

On April 11th, a new document in the case of Hannah Poling was filed. The document—Order Deferring Ruling on Petitioners’ Motion for Complete Transparency of Proceedings—-can be read here. The petitioners are Terry Poling and Jon Poling, the parents of “Hannah Poling, a minor.” The respondent is the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The Polings have requested that two Rule 4 Reports filed by the respondent be disclosed. (A Rule 4 Report is filed by respondent in a vaccine proceeding and incorporates medical information pertaining to the petitioner.)
One report states that Hannah’s seizure disorder was “not related to …read more

In the past several months, more and more scientific studies have added evidence that disputes a link between thimerosal and rising autism rates, and that link autism to mercury. Concurrently, a number of studies offer further evidence about genetic of factors and autism. Also at the same time, proponents of the view that some external, environmental factor can be linked to what is called “regressive autism” have been on a steady campaign to redefine and “rebrand” autism. Journalist David Kirby, whose 2005 book Evidence of Harm is subtitled “Mercury in Vaccines and the Autism Epidemic: A Medical Controversy,” has been …read more

After a lot of hesitation about riding his new bike, Charlie hoisted himself up, put his left foot on the left pedal, put his right foot on, and zoomed off with Jim easily catching up—that’s the image in my mind after a full week here.

Parents Going Back to School
Some parents of autistic children are returning to the classroom to study with a view towards helping their kids as they grow up.
We Go to the Met
Charlie and I spend a Saturday in Manhattan.
So Much For Autism Awareness
Robert Goldberg, the vice president of The Center for Medicine in the Public Interest …read more