Cassandra
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disabilities, or Childhood
Onset Schizophrenia
Q: Explain the controversy regarding vaccines as a possible cause of
autism spectrum disorder. Does the current United States based
research on the other causes of autism better explain autistic
spectrum disorder? Use United States scholarly journal articles to
explain your response.
The controversy regarding vaccines as a possible cause of
autism spectrum disorder began in the late 1990s when a small study
suggested a relationship between the measles, mumps, and rubella
vaccine and the onset of autism symptoms (DeStefano & Shimabukuro,
2019). Although this study was later retracted for serious ethical and
scientific violations, the claims received widespread media attention and
created lasting public fear. Parents became concerned that childhood
immunizations might trigger neurological changes that lead to autism,
especially because early vaccination occurs around the same time that
autism symptoms begin to emerge. This timing created the appearance
of a connection, even though later evidence showed no true causal
relationship (Eggertson, 2010).
Public concern grew when thimerosal, a preservative
containing ethylmercury, was inaccurately portrayed as harmful to the
developing brain. Although thimerosal was removed from most
childhood vaccines in the early two thousand, autism rates continued to
rise (Hurley et al., 2010). This trend demonstrated that removing the
preservative did not influence autism prevalence. The Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and some United States based studies
have repeatedly confirmed that vaccinations do not increase the risk of
autism. Large cohort studies, such as those published in Pediatrics and
The New England Journal of Medicine, evaluated millions of children
and found no difference in autism rates between vaccinated and
unvaccinated groups (Madsen et al., 2002). These findings strongly
support the conclusion that vaccines are not responsible for autism.
Current United States based research offers far more
scientifically supported explanations for autism spectrum disorder.
Genetics is the most significant contributor. Studies published in JAMA
Psychiatry and other peer reviewed journals show that autism has a
strong hereditary component. Research involving twins demonstrates
high concordance rates, indicating that genetic variation plays a major
role (Genovese & Butler, 2023). Advances in genetic sequencing have
identified numerous gene mutations associated with autism, many of
which affect early brain development, synapse formation, or neuronal
signaling (Zhou et al., 2022). These discoveries provide a more reliable
explanation than the previously suggested vaccine theory.
Environmental and prenatal influences also appear to
contribute to autism risk. Scholarly research from United States
institutions identifies factors such as advanced parental age, maternal
metabolic conditions such as diabetes and obesity, premature birth, and
in utero exposure to certain infections. For example, studies from the
National Institutes of Health show that maternal inflammation may alter
fetal neurodevelopment (Love et al., 2024). Rather than pointing to a
single cause, these findings suggest that autism arises from a
combination of genetic vulnerability and early developmental
influences.
In conclusion, the belief that vaccines cause autism is not supported by
scientific evidence and originated from a discredited study that created
widespread misunderstanding. Modern United States based research
strongly supports genetic and prenatal factors as more accurate
explanations for autism spectrum disorder. For this reason, health
professionals continue to encourage routine immunization while
focusing research efforts on the complex biological and developmental
factors that truly contribute to autism.
Kelly
Module Five Discussion Posting
Explain the controversary regarding the vaccines as a possible
cause of autism spectrum disorder. Does the current US based
research the “other causes” of autism better explain the autism
disorder?
In 1998 a case series by Andrew Wakefield in The Lancet was
published linking the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination
to autism, developmental delay and behavior regression. There was
almost an immediate drop in vaccination rates after the article was
published. The study was found to be poorly designed as it consisted of
only twelve children, all with significant gastrointestinal conditions.
Years later, ten of the twelve authors admitted their data had been
misinterpreted and they denied the link between autism and the MMR
vaccine. Then the author came forth and admitted he was receiving
funding by a lawyer defending parents with a lawsuit against the
companies that produced the vaccinations. The author subsequently lost
his license to practice medicine in 2010, and the study was retracted.
Autism in children is diagnosed through a combination of developmental
screenings and comprehensive evaluations (Smith et al., 2025.) Since
that study, a Danish study of over 500,00 children found no risk of
increased autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with MMR vaccinations and
a subsequent Danish study in 2019 with over 650,000 children
reaffirmed the same findings. A randomized clinical trial in the US in
2015, studied over 95,000 children and found no increased risk of autism
following MMR vaccination, even among children with older siblings
diagnosed with ASD. Later research studies in the United Kingdom,
Finland, Sweden and Japan confirmed that vaccinations, including
MMR and those containing thimerosal, are not associated with an
increased risk of ASD.
Unfortunately, the article myth, not the science, persists to this day.
Multiple ramifications from this misinformation are seen in the deceased
numbers of children that are vaccinated as well as the increased number
of measles outbreaks in our country. Vaccine hesitancy can become an
even more significant issues in populations such as families of children
with ASD, due to increased concerns about the perceived risks of
vaccination, potentially exacerbating ASD symptoms (Gulle et al.,
2024.) The scientific evidence of these multiple studies is supported by
the World Health Organization, the Center for Disease Control and the
American Academy of Pediatrics, yet if one was to perform an online
search the information/misinformation is overwhelming and confusing
to this day. The vaccine/autism controversary has caused vast scientific
and public confusion, and it has set back research and education into
genuine vaccine-induced neurological disorders (Breggin, 2021.)
Research and randomized clinical trials are not being performed to
ascertain if any other neurological consequences are noted with
vaccination administration such as increased encephalitis or Guillan-
Bare. Dismissively declaring that the MMR vaccine cannot cause autism
has become a substitute for researching or describing those neurological
issues it may cause (Breggin, 2021.)
In conclusion, we need to move forward and start to examine what
possible neurological consequences vaccinations could present, if any.
Rational, objective science is needed, not emotional, ill-founded or
politicized opinions. ASD is not a neurological disorder; it is a
neurodevelopmental disorder. A diagnosis of ASD is made by clinical
evaluation that supports the DSM-5-TR criteria, including history and
observation of characteristic behaviors, preferably using standardized
approaches (Hyman et al., 2020.) Since the prevalence of ASD continues
to increase we need to focus on evidence-based medicine to help guide
the treatment plans to develop positive outcomes from these patients.
