Autism's Causes: How Close Are We to Solving the Puzzle? | PBS NewsHour | April 20, 2011 | PBS

[Guest guest]

*/Autism's Causes: How Close Are We to Solving the Puzzle?/*

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/jan-june11/autism3causes_04-20.html

Anne Dachel's comment:

Dr. Amaral from the MIND Institute at the U. of CA, :

" It's not to say, however, that there is a small subset of

children who may be particularly vulnerable to vaccines if the child was

ill, if the child had a precondition, like a mitochondrial defect.

Vaccinations for those children actually may be the environmental factor

that tipped them over the edge of autism. And I think it's -- it is

incredibly important still to try and figure out what, if any,

vulnerabilities in a small subset of children might make them at risk

for having certain vaccinations. "

Dr. Martha Herbert, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School:

" I think it's possible that you could have a genetic subgroup.

You also might have an immune subgroup. There are a variety of

subgroups. But the problem with the population studies is they don't

they aren't necessarily designed to have the statistical power to find

subgroups like that if the subgroups are small. "

These two top experts echo the words of Dr. Bernadine Healy on CBS News

in 2008. http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4088138n

She said then that we haven't looked for a subgroup of

susceptible children who may be harmed by vaccinations.

It's clear the issue isn't settled and unless and until we honestly

address this question, the controversy will only grow more heated.

Anne Dachel, Media editor: Age of Autism