78% increase on Autism since 2002

[Diving Mullah]

A report by the Center for Disease Control showing a drastic 78% increase in cases of autism in America since 2002 - a new study suggests that the food we eat might be responsible. The peer-reviewed journal, Clinical Epigenetics, links increased autism cases to the widespread use of high-fructose corn syrup in the American diet.

As the study's co-author Dr. David Wallings said, "To better address the explosion of autism, it's critical we consider how unhealthy diets interfere with the body's ability to eliminate toxic chemicals, and ultimately our risk for developing long-term health problems like autism." According to the study - consuming high fructose corn syrup can lead to the loss of zinc in the body - making it more difficult for the body to rid itself of toxic metals like mercury and arsenic that have an adverse effect on brain development in children.

My big question is....Now that you know about this, what are YOU GOING TO DO?:shock::roll::2wave:



Diving Mullah

 

[tessaesque]

How many infants are receiving high quantities of high fructose corn syrup?
How many children with autism have been tested for heavy metal poisoning?
How many of those tested actually had high levels of heavy metal in their system?

 

[Aunt Spiker]

Link

I think one that they STRONGLY ignore like it's tabboo or something are genetics: my oldest son - being autistic - is more likely than most to have a child that is autistic. . . and so on. I don't think it's wrong to recognize this.

Also - we can't do anything on just rumors and random beliefs of what causes it - the ystil don't know for certain so how are we suppose to make appropriate change?

Also - I think autism, being a wide spectrum of issues, tends to be overdiagnosed as an umbrella diagnosis - it includes things like "pervasive develoment disorder - not otherwise specified" meaning "your kid has some issues but we really can't put them into any one particular catagory - sorry"
Gee - thanks doc! That was so helpful there!

But - last - I think that this really accounts for most of these 'incraesed statistics'

Doctors are getting better at diagnosing autism

I'd also assert that parents being more knowledgable about autism spectrum disorders and what to look for makes a difference, too. I had no clue - for example, that an obcession with spinning objects and ceiling fans was a sign of a problem.

 

[lizzie]

I personally suspect it's a combination of factors, and I have serious suspicions that it's related to all the sonography that is done during pregnancy these days.

 

[beerftw]

i think they are a little off on that study,autism has been known since the 50's and has been seen across both america and europe.

however much like diabetes which used to be a freak disease no one ever got suddenly exploded,autism seems to be the same way.the fact that europeans get it easily says its not from high frustose corn syrup,but probably from some chemical we used at some point.many of the chemicals that used to be in use for things like transformers power plants refineries etc to this day are still not fully on their side effects.but since it is increasing at a rapid rate i would say there has probably been a chemical used rapidly more in the last decade.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

I personally suspect it's a combination of factors, and I have serious suspicions that it's related to all the sonography that is done during pregnancy these days.

I don't think so - I had a lot of sonograms with my 3rd and 4th but only 1 with my first who is autistic.

For us it's purely genetic (though I think the factors change for others) - I realized this when I learned that 3 of my ex husband's children with his wife are autistic - more so than my oldest son is.

So that leaves just two connections: Him (genetic) - or the town that the children were conceived in/born in (I've heard rumors this is actually a possibility)

 

[lizzie]

I don't think so - I had a lot of sonograms with my 3rd and 4th but only 1 with my first who is autistic.

For us it's purely genetic (though I think the factors change for others) - I realized this when I learned that 3 of my ex husband's children with his wife are autistic - more so than my oldest son is.

So that leaves just two connections: Him (genetic) - or the town that the children were conceived in/born in (I've heard rumors this is actually a possibility)

It would depend on precisely when, during fetal development, the sono was done. If it's during the time frame when the neural tube closure, or other neurological development was taking place, then the exposure could be critical.

 

[Diving Mullah]

I don't think so - I had a lot of sonograms with my 3rd and 4th but only 1 with my first who is autistic.

For us it's purely genetic (though I think the factors change for others) - I realized this when I learned that 3 of my ex husband's children with his wife are autistic - more so than my oldest son is.

So that leaves just two connections: Him (genetic) - or the town that the children were conceived in/born in (I've heard rumors this is actually a possibility)

There is a very little evidence that ties autism to Genetics on its own, but more to the environment and diet. There is a very famous study (this dutch village that kept a meticulous records back to 12 or 13 century) in which clearly showed the relationship between diet, cycles of famine/prosperity and diabetic/autism, and how diet effects the gene and how gene skips one generation and shows up in grandchildren.

It is a very famous study, I'm sure if you Google it you find it.

Diving Mullah

 

[MadLib]

Link

I think one that they STRONGLY ignore like it's tabboo or something are genetics: my oldest son - being autistic - is more likely than most to have a child that is autistic. . . and so on. I don't think it's wrong to recognize this.

Genetics can be it. My uncle was diagnosed with mental retardation but his mother now thinks it would be diagnosed as autism today. I ended up with Asperger's.

Also - we can't do anything on just rumors and random beliefs of what causes it - the ystil don't know for certain so how are we suppose to make appropriate change?

The one that just pisses the living ****s out of me is Jenny McCarthy's vaccine bull****. Not only has the study that said that vaccines cause autism admitted a lie, kids everywhere are dying because McCarthy loves the spotlight.

Also - I think autism, being a wide spectrum of issues, tends to be overdiagnosed as an umbrella diagnosis - it includes things like "pervasive develoment disorder - not otherwise specified" meaning "your kid has some issues but we really can't put them into any one particular catagory - sorry"
Gee - thanks doc! That was so helpful there!

But - last - I think that this really accounts for most of these 'incraesed statistics'

Pervasive developmental disorder is on the spectrum - meaning it's not autism in itself but its highly related.

I'd also assert that parents being more knowledgable about autism spectrum disorders and what to look for makes a difference, too. I had no clue - for example, that an obcession with spinning objects and ceiling fans was a sign of a problem.

Indeed. One thing that needs to get across is that a special diet doesn't change anything. I got put on a gluten-and-lactose free diet and my behavior did not change. It may be different with lower-functioning autistic kids but for high-functioning autism and Asperger's it may not be necessary. Also parents need to learn not to panic if their kid is diagnosed with and understand that he/she cannot help the behavior that he/she exhibits. I mentally shudder when I think of all the kids who go undiagnosed because their parents just think they are weird.

 

[RadicalModerate]

Derp.

New methods for diagnosing autism, plus recognition of new shades on the autism spectrum, have lead to an increase of autism cases.

It's not that more people are becoming autistic, it's that more types of autism are being recognized.

 

[Diving Mullah]

Derp.

New methods for diagnosing autism, plus recognition of new shades on the autism spectrum, have lead to an increase of autism cases.

It's not that more people are becoming autistic, it's that more types of autism are being recognized.

You should know those work for CDC are very smart people who spend year researching these stuff, this not just a matter of OH! we have better methods of detecting so now just we diagnosing more people....


Main findings from this study:
Data from the study showed that developmental disabilities (DDs) are common: about 1 in 6 children in the U.S. had a DD in 2006–2008. These data also showed that prevalence of parent-reported DDs has increased 17.1% from 1997 to 2008. This study underscores the increasing need for health, education and social services, and more specialized health services for people with DDs.

Developmental Disabilities - Learn the Signs. Act Early:
Identifying developmental disabilities early allows children and their families to get the help they need. You can follow your child’s development by watching how he or she plays, learns, speaks, and acts. Talk with your child’s doctor at every visit about the milestones your child has reached and what to expect next. Learn more at www.cdc.gov/actearly.

The prevalence of any DD in 1997–2008 was 13.87%
Prevalence of learning disabilities was 7.66%;
Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was 6.69%;
Prevalence of other developmental delay was 3.65%; and,
Prevalence of autism was 0.47%.
Over the last 12 years, the
Prevalence of DDs has increased 17.1%—that’s about 1.8 million more children with DDs in 2006–2008 compared to a decade earlier;
Prevalence of autism increased 289.5%;
Prevalence of ADHD increased 33.0%; and,
Prevalence of hearing loss decreased 30.9%.
In addition, data from this study showed
Males had twice the prevalence of any DD than females and more specifically had higher prevalence of ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, stuttering/stammering and other DDs;
Hispanic children had lower prevalence of several disorders compared to non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black children, including ADHD and learning disabilities;
Non-Hispanic black children had higher prevalence of stuttering/stammering than non-Hispanic white children;
Children insured by Medicaid had a nearly two-fold higher prevalence of any DD compared to those with private insurance; and,
Children from families with income below the federal poverty level had a higher prevalence of DDs.
To better understand why the prevalence has increased, future research should focus on understanding the influence of increases in the prevalence of known risk factors, changes in acceptance and awareness of conditions, and benefits of early intervention services.


CDC - Features -Birth Defects Findings - NCBDDD


Diving Mullah

 

[Ikari]

A report by the Center for Disease Control showing a drastic 78% increase in cases of autism in America since 2002 - a new study suggests that the food we eat might be responsible. The peer-reviewed journal, Clinical Epigenetics, links increased autism cases to the widespread use of high-fructose corn syrup in the American diet.

As the study's co-author Dr. David Wallings said, "To better address the explosion of autism, it's critical we consider how unhealthy diets interfere with the body's ability to eliminate toxic chemicals, and ultimately our risk for developing long-term health problems like autism." According to the study - consuming high fructose corn syrup can lead to the loss of zinc in the body - making it more difficult for the body to rid itself of toxic metals like mercury and arsenic that have an adverse effect on brain development in children.

My big question is....Now that you know about this, what are YOU GOING TO DO?:shock::roll::2wave:



Diving Mullah

Is this because of increased cases of Autism or increased reporting of cases of Autism or some combination inbetween?

 

[AtlantaAdonis]

Anyone notice that autism prevalence has increased in lockstep with global temperatures? Hhhhhmmmm....

Also, I wouldn't be surprised if HFCS was involved, too. and I don't care that right-wing crank pseudo scientists say that the blood stream cannot tell the difference between "corn sugar" and cane sugar and that there's no repeatability in experiments showing corn syrup is worse for you than cane sugar. Just follow the money...lots of big corporations have forced artificial sugar down our throats for a long time.

 

[spud_meister]

Autism rates are going up here too, and high fructose corn syrup is unheard of.

 

[lizzie]

According to some studies I've read on the subject, autism rates have risen drastically in industrialized nations, more so in the ones with universal health care, where a very large percentage of women have prenatal care, and less so in the US where up to 25 or 30% do not get maximum levels of prenatal care. Another study showed that of a large group of babies delivered by midwives, as opposed to modern medical facilities, there were virtually no cases of autism in the midwife-delivered group. I honestly can't help but think there really is a causative correlation with ultrasound exposure.

 

[beerftw]

i cant help but honestly say no one has a clue on earth on how autism occurs.

it seems to be genetic,but not fully genetic,rather is seems to be selective in children born from the same parents.it occurs more in industialized countries,which actually leads me back to my original point,chemicals,no one fully knows the side effects of the chemicals used today.autism could easily be a recessive gene in everyone triggered by a certain chemical,it could be from a gene mutation from a current or previous chemical.

one thing that gets me though,every person i have ever known with kids who had autism or aspergers,all of their kids diagnosed died at birth and were revived after being born.

 

[KevinKohler]

Um....there are a couple of very obvious factors here....one is, more and more people are more educated on autism, and how to spot it. Which means that it gets spotted more and more often. Also, the definition of it has just changed, has it not, in order to include a wider range of symptoms.

And last, more people = more diseases people can get being gotten.

 

[Fiddytree]

I'm glad for my diagnosis, and my brother benefits from his as well. Some of the fear-mongering is over-the-top from the medical-advocate community.

 

[Cephus]

Derp.

New methods for diagnosing autism, plus recognition of new shades on the autism spectrum, have lead to an increase of autism cases.

It's not that more people are becoming autistic, it's that more types of autism are being recognized.

Exactly. With better testing methods, we're getting better at identifying it than we were in the past. It's probably about the same number of people, just more are being diagnosed. Previously, people simply went without diagnosis.

 

[Kushinator]

A report by the Center for Disease Control showing a drastic 78% increase in cases of autism in America since 2002 - a new study suggests that the food we eat might be responsible. The peer-reviewed journal, Clinical Epigenetics, links increased autism cases to the widespread use of high-fructose corn syrup in the American diet.

As the study's co-author Dr. David Wallings said, "To better address the explosion of autism, it's critical we consider how unhealthy diets interfere with the body's ability to eliminate toxic chemicals, and ultimately our risk for developing long-term health problems like autism." According to the study - consuming high fructose corn syrup can lead to the loss of zinc in the body - making it more difficult for the body to rid itself of toxic metals like mercury and arsenic that have an adverse effect on brain development in children.

My big question is....Now that you know about this, what are YOU GOING TO DO?:shock::roll::2wave:

From what i have heard, the increase that has been reported can be a result of a stronger understanding of the disorder that leads to more diagnoses. Essentially it was thought (100 years ago or what not) that a child with autism had severe behavior issues. Not to say that there is not a natural increase due to environmental factors, but do remember that the number of cancer patients increased rather dramatically with the advent of MRI, CT, and advances in laboratory analysis.

However, there has been a recent finding in regards to environmental factors:

The number of children born with autism is on the rise and so is obesity. Now researchers say the two may be linked.

In a study of more than 1,000 children, researchers found that mothers who were obese during pregnancy had a 67 percent greater chance of having a child with autism and were more than twice as likely to have a child with another developmental disorder. What’s more, moms with diabetes — which often occurs in those who are overweight — were 2.3 times more likely to have a child with developmental delay.

The findings published Monday in the journal Pediatrics are among the first to tie autism and developmental delay to the presence of metabolic conditions like obesity and diabetes in pregnant women. Researchers say their discoveries carry significant public health concerns, citing statistics showing that nearly 60 percent of American women of child-bearing age are overweight.

The rest of the article can be found here.

 

[Aunt Spiker]

Well - so many possibilities that hold apparent merit: it would be nice if they'd figure it out so we can curtail said activity.

Right now it's avoid everything - and still risk screwing your kids up . . . . kind of ****ty.