One of the most powerful organizations of
autism, Autism Speaks, shows a rift between
its founder and his daughter, who has an
autistic son. The founder adheres to findings
and treatment methods based on vigorous research,
while the daughter, after trying behavior
therapy to no avail, is convinced that vaccine,
or specifically the synthetic mercury in
it, is the culprit for autism, and wants
more funds from Autism Speaks to be diverted
to the 'mercury' camp.
There is no research supporting a causal
relationship between synthetic mercury and
autism, just like many other suspected chemicals
(glutten, food coloring, allergies...). But
it is ever so tempting to point a finger
at biochemical causes, as the treatment or
prevention would have been much more straightforward
and energy-efficient. It is always easier
to give a pill, enforce certain diet, or not give a vaccine,
than following a behavioral treatment plan.
Research further shatters the hope of pinning
down synthetic mercury in vaccine as one
of the villains. The New England Journal
of Medicine (vol. 357 no. 13, 2007) reports
that there is no real "causal association
between early exposure to mercury from thimerosal-containing
vaccines and immune globulins and deficits
in neuropsychological functioning at the
age of 7 to 10 years." This must be
disappointment to some of the parents and
practitioners who have hoped for a biological/medical
treatment.
However, as a result of a recent court case
awarding damages to a child who received
multiple vaccines and developed autism-like
symptoms, the hope of proving a link between
vaccine and autism could be aroused. Fearing
this potential rise of unfounded sentiment,
the medical establishment is quick to set the record straight: absolutely
no evidence; and not giving a child vaccination
is potentially deadly.
Unfortunately, behavior therapy remains the
only demonstrated treatment that consistently
shows 'some' results for autism. I stress
some because the improvement is highly individualized,
depending on many associated factors. And
the long-term gains are unpredictable.
I will cheer the day when specific biochemical
agent(s) are identified as the cause of autism.
But like many other complex behaviors, their
causes are often complex and it may be a
long time to come before we can cheer.