Autism Spectrum Diseases: Genetics or Environment? Facts and Legends. Short look at the problem

• Authors: Karl Ernst Mühlendahl v.

Title variants

PL

Choroby ze spektrum autyzmu: genetyczne czy środowiskowe? Fakty i legendy. Rzut oka na problem

• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Measles-mumps vaccinations might be responsible for the development of autism spectrum diseases (ASD), including high functioning autism, such as Asperger’s syndrome; that is what Wakefield et al. suggested in a paper in The Lancet twenty years ago [1]. Later, the Lancet Editors retracted this publication [2], due to the fact that Wakefield had „produced“ fake, falsified results, and that he was implicated in interests regarding material compensation from pharmaceutical companies producing vaccines to families with ASD. The Wakefield publication had the effect that consequently vaccination rates declined dramatically, and fuelled discussions about other environmental factors (bacteria, mercury, pesticides, etc.).

Keywords

EN

autism; children; environment

Discipline

• ENVIRONMENT_&_ECOLOGY: ENVIRONMENT & ECOLOGY

• Publisher: Polish Society of Environmental Medicine, Institute of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Journal: Medycyna Środowiskowa - Environmental Medicine
• Year: 2016
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 7-8

Contributors

author

Karl Ernst Mühlendahl v.

• Kinderumwelt gemeinnützige GmbH der Deutschen Akademie für Kinder – und Jugendmedizin

References

• [1] Wakefield A.J. et al.: Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children. Lancet 1998; 351: 637-641.
• [2] Horton R.A.: A statement by the editors of The Lancet. Lancet 2004; 363: 820-821.
• [3] Werling D.M., Geschwind D.H.: Recurrence rates provide evidence for sex-differential, familial genetic liability for autism spectrum disorders in multiplex families and twins. Mol Autism 2015; 6: 27-41.
• [4] Mandy W., Lai M.C.: Annual research review: The role of the environment in the developmental psychopathology of autism spectrum condition. J Child Psychol Psychiatry; Jama.doi.10.1111/jcpp.1250; 2016.
• [5] Koufaris C., Sismani C.: Modulation of the genome and epigenome of individuals susceptible to autism by environmental factors. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16: 8699-8718.
• [6] Eriksson J.M., Lundström S.: Lichtenstein P, Bejerot S, Eriksson E. Effect of co-twin gender on neurodevelopmental symptoms: a twin register study. Mol Autism 2016; 7: 8-13.
• [7] Sun-Young K. et al.: Abnormal activation of the social brain network in children with autism spectrum disorder: An fMRI study. Psychiatry Investig 2015; 12: 37-45.
• [8] Hamilton A.: Reflecting on the mirror neuron system in autism: A systematic review of current theories. Dev Cogn Neurosci 2013; 3: 91-105.

• Document Type: short_communication