Years later, after a controversial study was proven false, research shows there is no link between the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism.
In 1998, a medical journal published a controversial study suggesting a link between autism and a common childhood vaccine.
The statement was later retracted, but the impact of the original publication remains to this day. Despite the fact that there is no evidence that vaccines can cause autism, some people still have questions and are hesitant or even against vaccinating their children.
Experts often worry that vaccination rates are lower than they should be.
Is there a link between the MMR vaccine and autism?
The idea that autism is linked to childhood vaccines, and in particular the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, has been debunked many times. Although some people were already skeptical about vaccines, the study published in the British medical journal The Lancet in 1998 fueled the myth that there was a link between children receiving the MMR vaccine and the development of autism.
According to a 2021 study, this contributed to an increase in vaccine skepticism in the United States and led to “an immediate increase of approximately 70 cases of MMR injury claims per month.”
A few years later, the Lancet retracted the study, saying the results were wrong.
Several studies were conducted to examine the results after the first study was published. In fact, as early as 1999, the Lancet published the results of a larger epidemiological study that found no causal link between the MMR vaccine and the onset of autism. Other studies that debunked the claims made by the 1998 study soon followed.
A 2019 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine evaluated more than 650,000 children to determine whether the MMR vaccine increases the risk of autism. The authors wrote: “Our study does not support that the MMR vaccine increases the risk of autism, triggers autism in predisposed children, or is associated with an accumulation of autism cases after its “vaccinate.”
Autism Risk Factors Currently, the cause of autism is not understood, according to the National Institute of Environmental Sciences (NIEHS). A number of factors could influence whether a child develops autism.
Experts believe that genetics is a predisposing factor, which may include genetic mutations or genetic variations. Therefore, risk factors may include:
- siblings with autism
- older parents
- Genetic conditions such as Rett syndrome, fragile X syndrome and Down syndrome
According to the NIEHS, research is underway to examine the possible interaction between genetic and environmental factors that may contribute to the development of autism. For example, scientists hope to find out if a pregnant person’s exposure to certain chemicals during pregnancy could cause a genetic mutation that causes symptoms of autism.
Very low birth weight and birth defects can also increase the likelihood of autism.
How is autism diagnosed?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children should undergo routine screening for autism spectrum disorder at 18 months and then again at 24 months, with ongoing developmental monitoring. Symptoms often begin to develop around this time.
There is no single diagnostic tool used to diagnose autism or autism spectrum disorder.
However, health professionals usually observe the child’s behavior and consider the parent or carer’s description of the child’s development. They look for deficits in social communication and interaction, as well as repetitive or restricted behavior patterns.
Treatment Options for Autism
According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHHD), there is no single standard treatment for autism either. In fact, the NICHHD notes that several treatments are commonly used to help children with autism spectrum disorder, including:
- Terapie of proportional management
- early intervention
- cognitive-behavioral therapy
- educational and school remedies
- remedies
- nutritional therapy
- occupational therapy
- parenteral therapy
- social skills training
- speech therapy
The best treatment or combination of treatments is often the one that addresses a child’s specific needs and reduces symptoms that affect their functioning in daily life.
Photo: shutterstock
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2024-11-08 11:30:00
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