Aspies For Freedom

I apologize in advance for being ignorant on this issue... but in a few places I am reading the theory that autism is genetic but is "triggered" by vaccines.  So in other words, vaccines still cause autism but it's because certain genes are "triggered."

This theory makes no sense to me, because if autism is a neurological variant, isn't a person hardwired that way from birth?  Also, there are some unvaccinated autistics.

Can genes that cause autism be "triggered?"

Can they be triggered after a person's birth, I mean...

There's some theory about genetic mutation being caused by vaccines and even pollution.  I think it's all crap, because it denies that autism has existed for hundreds, thousands, zillions of years.  I don't think Leonarda DaVinci had mercury poisoning.

I think it's despicable NT parents hating their autistic kids, and wanting to blame anyone, anything, except their own damned genes.  There's another thread about this, maybe more, under the topic of autism speaks and similar groups, and the "have you seen this blog?" thread.

The Autism Genome Project has published research that autism is "over 90% genetic" INHERITED.

I did not have vaccines as a child and I have aspergers... But I did grow a second head after my polio vaccine in 1957. Does that count?

Jewlie I agree.. The parents can't face teh fact THEY carried the GENE! Heheheheheehe!  We aspies are a product of THEM! ALONE! Hahahahhahahahaha... See were sex gets you?   I had no vaccinations under the age of 6 when i received my first polio shot. My aspergers was already there...

I think being an Aspie is a wonderful revenge on shallow parents are are narcissist !  Hehehehehe.. lets give them hell! I love being an Aspie by the way.. Thank God my Parents loved me for ME!

it's bulshit the mercury produce another symptoms:

1. Psychological Disturbances (erethysm)
Irritability, Nervousness, Fits of Anger, Memory Loss, Lack of Attention, Depression, Low Self Confidence, Anxiety, Drowsiness, Shyness/timidity, Decline of Intellect, Insomnia, Low Self Control.

2. Oral Cavity Disorders
Bleeding Gums, White Patches - Mouth, Stomatitis, Bone Loss Around Teeth, Loosening of Teeth, Ulcers of Gums- Palate- Tongue, Excessive Saliva, Burning of Mouth, Foul Breath, Gum Pigmentation, Metalic Taste.

3. Gastrointestinal Effects
Abdominal Cramps, Colitis, Crohn's disease, Gastrointestinal Problems, Diarrhea.

4. Systemic Effects
Cardiovascular, Irregular Heart Beat, Changes in Blood Pressure, Feeble or  Irregular Pulse, Pain or Pressure in Chest

5. Neurologic
Chronic or Frequent Headaches, Dizziness, Ringing or Noises in Ears, Fine Tremors (Hands, Feet, Eye Lids, Tongue)

6. Respiratory
Persistant Cough, Emphysema, Shallow or Irregular Breathing.

7. Immunological
Allergies, Asthma, Rhinitis, Sinusitis, Swollen Lymph Nodes in Neck

8. Endocrine
Subnormal Temperature, Cold Clammy Hands & Feet, Excessive Perspiration, Muscle Weakness, Fatigue, Hypoxia, Edema, Loss of Appetite, Loss of Weight, Joint Pain

Gee I wanted to blame my second head growth on mercury... perhaps measles shots? Oops never had those.. I wonder what caused my second head? The other got to big perhaps? <G>

As far as I’m concerned autism is a natural genetic variation within the human population--it can be expressed more fully in some people than in others. The genes causing autism may be ‘switched on’ ‘switched off’ or ‘switched partial on’ dependent on the individual. Environmental factors may allow these genes to be expressed more fully in some--as they might allow the gene for red hair to be expressed more fully in others.

But we’re a long way from proving anything manmade or nasty (mercury poisoning, vaccines) is  influencing our genes or increasing the prevalence of autism.

Yes, environmental factors can trigger certain genetic conditions. PKU would be an example... iirc the person is fine unless they consume phenylalanine (an amino acid found in lots of normal foods), in which case they become mentally *** and perhaps some other things (this is not my specialty, look it up if you're interested). Also, they claim that depression is partially genetic (50% iirc), but life circumstances etc make a big difference in whether someone will become/stay depressed... if you're raised to be an optimist those genes aren't likely to be an issue, whereas if you're raised to be a pessimist they are likely to get you in trouble. Again not my specialty, but that's my understanding of the topic.

So, theoretically, vaccines could trigger autism in susceptible individuals... the problem however is that a fair amount of research has been done that disproves that theory. I think the mercury-vaccine-theory was pretty lame to begin with, as in that case they also should've been blaming certain fish. In my opinion, the stress of being vaccinated might cause some kids to display their condition more (have more meltdowns in the day(s) following the shots... NTs are often more clingy immediately after receiving shots as well), but other than that I don't believe there's any correlation between vaccines and autism. 90% genetic is a really high percentage.

Another thing I've read is that they removed the mercury from the vaccines back in the late 90s (iirc 1999), except from the flu vaccine and a couple of rare vaccines. Still, I think they say the incidence of autism is rising.

All studies refute that....  The only reason its rising is because we are being diagnosed at great numbers.... I am the ONLY one in my family diagnosed and I have the least of the Asperger symptoms than they have... even my best friend is an aspie and refuses to be diangosed.. many of my doc friends will not be diagnosed...  There are many aspies out there... the numbers are only growing becuase they are being discovered.  you have to live long enough to see. it... and the studies are there and not enough are done. the vaccine is fine.

That certainly makes a lot of sense. Sadly, some parents don't wish to acknowledge any genetic component to the condition so they are grasping at straws, looking for any plausible explanations outside of themselves for their childrens' autism.

These days autism is blamed on mercury poisoning or vaccine reactions or some other stuff.  Before these things were invented/prevalent in society, autism was still happening.  We read of pre-industrial times when "the fairies stole my babe and left a changling in its place."  Why did the parents believe this?  Because one day they have a normally-developing child, the next the child's regressed (usually around the two year age.)  Which of course is the age where most chronic autism makes it's appearance.  So it was fairies back then, now it's mercury.  I wait with bated breath for the "aliens kidnapped my baby" explanation.
Alison

This year I became aware of research indicating that genes are not self-actualizing.  Dr. Lipton was the primary author of the study I read about.  I have not followed up on this.  It seems that some genes must be self-actualizing, otherwise why would there be dominant v. recessive phenotypic characteristics? I don't know enough to make a definite statement, but the research is both conclusive and intriguing.

That said, whatever environmental triggers may or may not be affecting the expression of autism, vaccines do not appears to be among them.  There have been too many scientific investigations comparing vaccinated v. unvaccinated that just cannot find a correlation. It was a viable hypothesis, but it has not been confirmed scientifically.

Another interesting hypothesis is the artificial colorings and preservatives in food today may have a negative impact.  I doubt this would be a "trigger," but it has been shown to be strongly positively correlated with ADHD. Perhaps I would describe it as an "aggravator," but I'm not a physician.