[Fwd: [EOHarm] UMDF Statement on the Connection Between Mitochondrial Disease and Autism]

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UMDF Statement on the Connection Between Mitochondrial Disease and Autism

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PITTSBURGH, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United

Mitochondrial Disease Foundation released the following statement from its

executive director and CEO, Chuck Mohan, in light of the National Vaccine

Advisory Committee's (NVAC) meeting of its Vaccine Safety Working Group and

recent published reports of possible links between mitochondrial disorders

and autism.

" Recent published reports about the potential links between

mitochondrial disorders and autism demonstrate the urgent need for more

research into mitochondrial disease, a devastating and often fatal illness.

" Mitochondrial dysfunction has also been implicated in Alzheimer's

Dementia, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, heart disease and

diabetes.

" Mitochondrial disease is not rare. Researchers estimate that every 15

minutes a child is born with mitochondrial disease or will be diagnosed

with mitochondrial disease by the age of 10. Most affected children do not

live beyond their teenage years.

" The National Institutes of Health currently spends about $11.8 million

on research into mitochondrial-related research -- with only about one

third of that earmarked for primary mitochondrial disease research. That is

less than 1/1000 of one percent of NIH's $29B annual budget. That is why

the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation supports the effort by the

National Institutes of Health to place mitochondrial disease research on an

NIH roadmap.

" Mitochondrial disease deprives the body of energy making it difficult

to function properly. It can affect any organ of the body and at any age.

The brain may be impaired, vision may be dim, muscles may twitch or may be

too weak to allow the body to walk or write, the heart may be weakened, and

the ability to eat and digest food can be compromised.

" Finding the cause of and cure for mitochondrial disease would not only

alleviate the suffering of families around the world, it would also unlock

the door to a world of scientific knowledge and could help lead the way to

possible treatments for many other diseases. "

SOURCE United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation

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