SafeMinds has actively critiqued much of the research on the vaccine-autism link since 2000. Generation Rescue has provided two websites, fourteenstudies.org and putchildrenfirst.org, that provide critiques of the flaws of studies that are often used to refute the vaccine-autism link. Those websites include critiques written by SafeMinds, such as Analysis and Critique of the CDC’s Handling of the Thimerosal Exposure Assessment Based on VSD Information written as critique of the Verstraetten study. You will find other commentaries and critiques by SafeMinds below.
Urinary Excretion Study – SafeMinds Commentary (2/22/12)
Brief: Environment vs. Genetics
Why The Autism Epidemic Demands a New Approach
Background, Supporting Research and Analysis of Current Research Funding
Vaccines and Autism: What do Epidemiological Studies Really Tell Us?
This paper examines the epidemiological studies surrounding “autism and the MMR vaccine” and “autism and thimerosal”. It explains in detail the conflicts of interest, poor designs and unsupported conclusions in 16 different studies related to autism and vaccines. It includes the opinions of other authorities on these studies as well.
On-Time Vaccine Receipt in the First Year Does Not Adversely Affect Neuropsychological Outcomes (June 2010)
SafeMinds Safety First Comment to National Vaccine Program
SafeMinds Response to National Vaccine Plan of 2008 Draft (March 2009)
Latest Autism Gene Findings… Not Much (April 2009)
There’s a familiar rhythm to the most prominent autism gene hunt publications. Their authors hype their newly minted study aggressively in the media. The prestigious journals that publish them lend their imprimatur to press releases that say, “this study is a big deal.” The findings sound impressive in the press release (and the authors get plenty of time on camera and in leading newspapers to tell us how truly impressive they are). In the meantime–in papers that are so densely written that making sense of what they really say requires far more reflection than the media hype cycle permits–skillfully concealed evidence reveals the truly important new in the findings: the authors whisper quietly (if at all) that the new analysis negates the most important findings of some of the most prominent previous gene hunts, while crucial detail on their new findings is often relegated to “supplementary material” that’s not available on the publication date. Read more.
SafeMinds Sponsors and Attends 25th International Neurotoxicology Conference
NIH & AUTISM: A Case Study in Barriers to Progress in Environmental Medicine
October 2008 Authored by Sallie Bernard, Mark Blaxill and Theresa Wrangham
Read paper or poster.
SafeMinds and National Autism Association – NIEHS-Sponsored Symposium on Environmental Factors in Neurodevelopmental Disorders (August 2005)
In August 2005, a two-day symposium was held in Bethesda, Maryland on the role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders and related neurodevelopmental conditions. Dr. Kenneth Olden – then the director of NIEHS – conceived the idea for the conference, and the meeting was sponsored by NIEHS. Two autism research groups, the Coalition for SafeMinds and the National Autism Association, co-organized the meeting with a team of researchers they recruited to the effort.
MMR and Autism in Perspective: The Denmark Story (2004)
Authored by Carol Stott, Ph.D.; Mark Blaxill; Andrew J.Wakefield, M.B., FRCS for the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons
Autism and related developmental disorders, once rare, are now becoming a common problem in Western countries. Although frequently catastrophic in their effects, the current crisis has come up against a “duck-and-cover” mentality from many a dusty corner of conventional medical wisdom. Read more.
Something is Rotten in Denmark (May 2004)
An Analysis of the Failures and Conflicts of Interest in Several Studies Used by IOM Vaccine Safety Committee Report. View Power Point
Generation Zero Full Analysis with Charts (2004)
Thomas Verstraeten’s First Analyses of the Link Between Vaccine Mercury Exposure and the Risk of Diagnosis of Selected Neuro-Developmental Disorders Based on Data from the Vaccine Safety Datalink: November-December 1999. Click here for full analysis with charts, click here for Generation Zero Synopsis.
Analysis and Critique of the CDC’s Handling of the Thimerosal Exposure Assessment Based on VSD Information (October 2003)
View Power Point
Analysis of the Danish Autism Registry Data Base in Response to the Hviid et al Paper on Thimerosal in JAMA (October 2003)
A large percentage of diagnosed autism cases are lost from the Danish registry each year. In the ten years preceding 2000, 815 cases were lost, more than the 710 remaining in the registry in 2000. The vast majority of those lost cases would represent older children in the 2000 registry. Since the relative risk of the Hviid study is based on finding fewer older thimerosal-exposed children than younger unexposed children, the validity of their conclusion exonerating thimerosal in autism is questionable. More likely, the finding is a result of missing records rather than true lower incidence rates among the exposed group. Read more.
Danish Thimerosal-Autism Study in Pediatrics: Misleading and Uninformative on Autism-Mercury Link (September 2003)
A report by Madsen et al. published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in their journal Pediatrics claims to provide evidence against a link between autism rates and the mercury in thimerosal, a preservative used in childhood vaccines. Unfortunately, the study analysis is full of flaws and inaccuracies, invalidating the conclusions regarding thimerosal. The study adds little of value to the scientific literature on autism and mercury. Read more.
SafeMinds Press Release: Vaccine Health Officials Manipulate Autism Records to Quell Rising Fears over Mercury in Vaccines: Safe Minds Cites Unscientific Trending Techniques and Conflicts of Interest, Call Study’s Conclusions Doubtful
Commentary on Croen et al. (2002) The Changing Prevalence of Autism in California (April 2003)
Authored by Blaxill, Baskin and Spitzer Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Vol. 33, No. 2, April 2003
Lisa Croen and colleagues (Croen, Grether, Hoogstrate, & Selvin, 2002) suggest that the real incidence of autism has not increased. They propose instead that a pattern of “diagnostic substitution” has moved Californian patients who would previously have been diagnosed as mentally retarded (Croen, Grether, & Selvin, 2001) into the autism category. Their calculations purport to demonstrate that over 100% of the increase in autism from 1987–1994 is an artifact of changes in diagnostic practices. In your editorial commentary, Eric Fombonne praises the study, and claims “Croen et al. carefully analyzed the California dataset.” Read more.
Socioeconomic & Racial Divide in Autism Numbers
A startling new study out of the University of Colorado Boulder exposed an unexpected trend. Autism rates are escalating for African American and Hispanic families as well as economically disadvantaged families, while the rates for wealthy Caucasian families have declined.
Dealing with the Coronavirus Emergency For Autism Families
The media has done an excellent job promoting the CDC’s steps to protecting one’s self and others from COVID-19. However, teaching social distancing, proper hand washing techniques, and avoiding touching your face will be quite challenging for many of those on the spectrum. Someone with ASD may have sensory issues or lack understanding of personal space. Following multi-step directions may be difficult or not remembered without prompting. Getting used to staying at home or sheltering in place will disturb daily routines. Persistence, patience and perseverance will be the orders of the day to get through this trying time.
Exposure to Phthalates During Pregnancy Associated with Autism Traits
A UMASS Amherst study shows that boys exposed in the womb to phthalates were more likely to exhibit autism traits at ages three and four. The study used the term “autistic traits” instead of “autism” due to the young age of the children used in the research. The authors felt there may be a chance some children may exhibit a few symptoms of autism but not be diagnosed with the full disorder later.
Duquesne University Research Team Sets Lofty Goal of Stopping Autism Pathology as it Develops
Duquesne University has announced a biomarker test developed to identify children in the process of developing autism, possibly stopping the progression before their brain pathology worsens. In the future, this test may even help identify newborns at risk of developing the disorder.
Autism & Sleep Troubles: A Critical Concern and Least Studied Feature of the Spectrum
The two most common issues for individuals with autism are insomnia and diminished time spent in the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage. The insomnia people with autism experience not only makes it difficult to fall asleep but it also makes it a challenge to stay asleep. The general population spends about 23 percent of their sleep in the REM cycle. People with autism only spend 15 percent, making their sleep less restorative. Lower quality sleep can lead to poor social skills, more severe repetitive behaviors and lower scores on IQ tests.
What Leads to the Good Life for Autistic Adults? Nobody Knows.
People with autism live most of their lives as adults, yet almost all research – 98% – has been done on children. And what meager research on adult outcomes exists has generally focused on the individual or family – on skill development or caregiving approaches, for example. Yet studies on health challenges across many fields have shown that community- or systems-level capacities – the services offered, innovation in programs, case coordination, financing – are vital components to achieving sufficient quality of life. Surprisingly, there are few studies evaluating programs and services for autistic adults, reports a new study.
