There is a paid anti-vaccine activist by the name of Ginger Taylor, who claims she has "proof" that vaccines cause autism and other conditions.
(click to embiggen. Or look for yourself: http://www.facebook.com/notes/ginger-taylor/76-research-papers-showing-that-vaccines-can-cause-autism/10151550806568920 (don't worry, I use donotlink.com)
The list recently has been getting a lot of play, so a group of pro-science bloggers and writers reviewed the list in detail. No, the 72 papers do not show that vaccines can cause autism. The complete list The first 19 papers are discussed below the fold, and you can download a copy of the full list yourself here: Download G_Taylor_list_debunked_V2.0_8_7
[12/14/2013: edited to add: Somebody emailed me to ask, what's wrong with in-vitro studies? Why are you dismissive of them?
The complete series
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 1)
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 2)
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 3)
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 4)
Studies Taylor claims “support vaccine/autism causation”
1. Hepatitis B vaccination of male neonates and autism diagnosis, NHIS 1997-2002 (original Taylor number = 42)
Correct citation: Gallager CM, Goodman MS, Hepatitis B vaccination of male neonates and autism diagnosis, NHIS 1997-2002. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2010;73:(24):1665-77.
Very weak study with numerous flaws. Debunked at (among others):
- http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2009/09/17/another-weak-study-proves-vaccines-cause-autism/
- http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2010/09/16/autism-causation-and-the-hepatitis-b-vaccine-no-link/
- http://www.harpocratesspeaks.com/2013/05/mind-institute-no-difference-in.html
- http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2012/07/1-hepatitis-b-vaccination-of-male-neonates-and-autism-diagnosis-nhis-1997-2002-2010.html
A related study from 2008 by the same team is discussed as paper #43
2. Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism? (Original Taylor number = 53)
Correct citation: Tomljenovic L, Shaw CA. Do aluminum vaccine adjuvants contribute to the rising prevalence of autism? J Inorg Biochem. 2011 Nov;105(11):1489-99. doi: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2011.08.008. Epub 2011 Aug 23.
Fatally flawed “study” – junk science. Debunked at:
- http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2013/07/10/comment-on-do-aluminum-vaccine-adjuvants-contribute-to-the-rising-prevalence-of-autism/
- http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2011/12/08/and-global-warming-is-caused-by-the-decr/ In particular, note:
the authors are plotting ASD incidence in each year (1991-2008) against total aluminium content for the pediatric schedule *in that year*. Not (as you might expect) the aluminium exposure for the ASD cases themselves, according to the pediatric schedules of 6 to 21 years previously, but no, that same year.
In effect they are looking for a correlation between the number of people who developed ASD decades earlier, and the number of vaccinations given to other children, in the current year. This is an interesting model of causality!
3. Infection, vaccines and other environmental triggers of autoimmunity (Not in original Taylor list)
Correct citation: Molina V, Shoenfeld Y. Infection, vaccines and other environmental triggers of autoimmunity. Autoimmunity. 2005 May;38(3):235-45.
Nothing to do with autism; also seems to be a discursive paper rather than a “research study”.
4. A Positive Association found between Autism Prevalence and Childhood Vaccination uptake across the U.S. Population (Original Taylor number = 51)
Correct citation: Delong G., A positive association found between autism prevalence and childhood vaccination uptake across the U.S. population. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2011;74(14):903-16. doi: 10.1080/15287394.2011.573736.
Junk “science” debunked here, for starters
- http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2011/07/08/a-positive-association-found-between-autism-prevalence-and-childhood-vaccination-uptake-across-the-u-s-population-2/
- http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2011/06/11/speech-impairment-and-autism-inseparable/"The "vaccination rate" (they have a very odd definition) goes up dramatically in the first two years of the study. The "autism+SLI rate" does not. If there were a real association between the two, it would be clear in those first columns of data.
- http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2012/03/07/conflicts-of-interest-in-vaccine-safety-research/
- http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2011/06/08/more-bad-science-in-the-service-of-the-discredited-idea/
- http://neuroskeptic.blogspot.com/2011/05/vaccines-cause-autism-until-you-look-at.html "My conclusion is that this dataset shows no evidence of any association. The author nonetheless found one. How? By doing some statistical wizardry."
- http://biologyfiles.fieldofscience.com/2011/06/gayle-delong-safeminds-board-member-and.html "The acceptance and publication of this paper appear to have been careless to an extreme. I'd like to know who the reviewers were."
5. B-Lymphocytes from a Population of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings Exhibit Hypersensitivity to Thimerosal (Not in Taylor’s original list.)
Correct citation: Sharpe MA, Taylor LG, Baskin DS B-Lymphocytes from a Population of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unaffected Siblings Exhibit Hypersensitivity to Thimerosal J Toxicol. 2013;2013:801517. doi: 10.1155/2013/801517. Epub 2013 Jun 9.
In vitro study, thimerosal (no longer used in U.S. childhood vaccines except for some influenza vaccines), concentrations higher than formerly found in vaccines. Only 11 families studied.
6. Abnormal measles-mumps-rubella antibodies and CNS autoimmunity in children with autism. (Not in Taylor’s original list.)
Correct citation: Singh VK, Lin SX, Newell E, Nelson C. Abnormal measles-mumps-rubella antibodies and CNS autoimmunity in children with autism. J Biomed Sci. 2002 Jul-Aug;9(4):359-64.J Biomed Sci. 2002 Jul-Aug;9(4):359-64.
Singh’s work has not been replicated. [edited to add]As Paul Offit wrote on page 45 of Autism's False Prophets,
...a closer look at Singh's science revealed two critical flaws: children with autism didn't have nerve damage and, according to measles experts, the test that Singh had used to detect measles antibodies didn't detect them.
Multiple studies in multiple countries with tens of thousands of subjects have repeatedly failed to find an association between measles vaccine and autism.
Multiple studies in multiple countries with tens of thousands of subjects have repeatedly failed to find an association between measles vaccine and autism.
- http://www.immunizationinfo.org/issues/iom-reports/measles-mumps-rubella-vaccine-and-autism
- http://www.immunizationinfo.org/science/no-evidence-mmr-vaccine-causes-autism
7. Serological association of measles virus and human herpesvirus-6 with brain autoantibodies in autism. (Not in Taylor’s original list.)
Correct citation Singh VK, Lin SX, Yang VC. Serological association of measles virus and human herpesvirus-6 with brain autoantibodies in autism. Clin Immunol Immunopathol. 1998 Oct;89(1):105-8.
Note that this paper is from 1998. Singh’s work has not been replicated. Multiple studies in multiple countries with tens of thousands of subjects have repeatedly failed to find an association between measles vaccine and autism.
- http://www.immunizationinfo.org/issues/iom-reports/measles-mumps-rubella-vaccine-and-autism
- http://www.immunizationinfo.org/science/no-evidence-mmr-vaccine-causes-autism
8. Metabolic biomarkers of increased oxidative stress and impaired methylation capacity in children with autism (Original Taylor number = 1)
Correct citation: James SJ, Cutler P, Melnyk S, Jernigan S, Janak L, Gaylor DW, Neubrander JA. Metabolic biomarkers of increased oxidative stress and impaired methylation capacity in children with autism. Am J Clin Nutr. 2004 Dec;80(6):1611-7.
Nothing to do with vaccines.
9. Porphyrinuria in childhood autistic disorder: Implications for environmental toxicity (original Taylor number = 2)
Correct citation: Nataf R, Skorupka C, Amet L, Lam A, Springbett A, Lathe R. Porphyrinuria in childhood autistic disorder: implications for environmental toxicity. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2006 Jul 15;214(2):99-108. Epub 2006 Jun 16.
“Extremely haphazard science”
Also has nothing to do with vaccines.
10. Uncoupling of ATP-mediated Calcium Signaling and Dysregulated IL-6 Secretion in Dendritic Cells by Nanomolar Thimerosal (Original Taylor number=4)
Correct citation: Goth SR, Chu RA, Gregg JP, Cherednichenko G, Pessah IN. Uncoupling of ATP-mediated calcium signaling and dysregulated interleukin-6 secretion in dendritic cells by nanomolar thimerosal. Environ Health Perspect. 2006 Jul;114(7):1083-91.
In-vitro study of mouse cells exposed to trace (nano) amounts of thimerosal. Never-replicated.
11. Comparison of Blood and Brain Mercury Levels in Infant Monkeys Exposed to Methylmercury or Vaccines Containing Thimerosal (Original Taylor number = 6)
Correct citation: Burbacher TM, Shen DD, Liberato N, Grant KS, Cernichiari E, Clarkson T. Comparison of blood and brain mercury levels in infant monkeys exposed to methylmercury or vaccines containing thimerosal. Environ Health Perspect. 2005 Aug;113(8):1015-21.
Discusses methylmercury, which was never used in vaccines, and ethylmercury, the latter of which is thimerosal (which is no longer used in childhood vaccines in the U.S. other than the flu vaccine). Widely debunked, see for examplehttp://bartholomewcubbins.blogspot.com/2007/01/bc-on-autism-revisiting-burbacher-2005.html"There has been a number of people touting this paper yet only a few have really read it. Here's the paper in pictures. In short, only about half of the real experiment was done. I can't speculate why the authors stopped short, but I can say that their decision renders this paper almost worthless."
Discussion: >http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2012/07/6-comparison-of-blood-and-brain-mercury-levels-in-infant-monkeys-exposed-to-methylmercury-or-vaccine.html. Also see the Institute for Vaccine Safety, On Thimerosal in Vaccines
12. Increases in the number of reactive glia in the visual cortex of Macaca fascicularis following subclinical long-term methyl mercury exposure. (Original Taylor number = 7 )
Correct citation: Charleston JS, Bolender RP, Mottet NK, Body RL, Vahter ME, Burbacher TM. Increases in the number of reactive glia in the visual cortex of Macaca fascicularis following subclinical long-term methyl mercury exposure. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 1994 Dec;129(2):196-206.
Discusses a form of mercury, methyl mercury, NEVER used in vaccines. The monkeys were exposed to very high doses (50 micrograms Hg/kg body wt/day) every day for months.
There is no research linking increased reactive glia in the visual cortex to autism.
13. Neuroglial Activation and Neuroinflammation in the Brain of Patients with Autism (Original Taylor number = 8)
Correct citation: Vargas DL, Nascimbene C, Krishnan C, Zimmerman AW, Pardo CA, Neuroglial activation and neuroinflammation in the brain of patients with autism. Ann Neurol. 2005 Jan;57(1):67-81.
The lead author wrote, We were concerned that the study would raise a lot of controversy and be misused,” Pardo said. “We were right.”
Also, nothing to do with vaccines.
Discussions: http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2009/11/23/autism-treatment-science-hijacked-to-support-alternative-therapies/andhttp://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2012/07/8-neuroglial-activation-and-neuroinflammation-in-the-brain-of-patients-with-autism-2005-.html
14. Autism: A Brain Disorder, or A Disorder That Affects the Brain? (Original Taylor number = 9)
Correct citation: Herbert MR, Autism: A Brain Disorder, or A Disorder That Affects the Brain? Clinical Neuropsychiatry 2005 2:(6) 354-379
This is a long opinion piece, draped in sciencey-sounding language. Does this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No. This paper is merely Herbert's musings on notions about causation.
15. Activation of Methionine Synthase by Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 and Dopamine: a Target for Neurodevelopmental Toxins and Thimerosal (Original Taylor number = 10)
Correct citation: Waly M, Olteanu H, Banerjee R, Choi SW, Mason JB, Parker BS, Sukumar S, Shim S, Sharma A, Benzecry JM, Power-Charnitsky VA, Deth RC, Activation of methionine synthase by insulin-like growth factor-1 and dopamine: a target for neurodevelopmental toxins and thimerosal. Mol Psychiatry. 2004 Apr;9(4):358-70.
From the Vaccine Court 2010 Dwyer decision:[Deth's] own research, most of which was unpublished, unduplicated, or mentioned for the first time during the Theory 2 general causation hearing, was poorly performed and scientifically implausible. Based on in vitro effects of mercury on “neuronal cells,” he claimed that mercury had the same effects on human brain cells.
Discussion in depth: http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2012/07/10-activation-of-methionine-synthase-by-insulin-like-growth-factor-1-and-dopamine-a-target-for-neuro.html
16. Validation of the Phenomenon of Autistic Regression Using Home Videotapes (original Taylor number = 11)
Correct citation: Werner E, Dawson G. Validation of the phenomenon of autistic regression using home videotapes. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005 Aug;62(8):889-95.
The phenomenon of regression in autism is well-known, and in no way validates the idea that vaccines are causal in autism.
A later Bearman paper characterizes six developmental trajectories in autism, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22473372
17. Blood Levels of Mercury Are Related to Diagnosis of Autism: A Reanalysis of an Important Data Set (original Taylor number=12)
Correct citation: Desoto MC, Hitlan RT. Blood levels of mercury are related to diagnosis of autism: a reanalysis of an important data set. J Child Neurol. 2007 Nov;22(11):1308-11.
The infamous Desoto and Hitlan paper. This was subject to a great deal of critical commentary among scientifically and statistically expert autism parents and other interested observers, for example:
- http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2008/07/16/epiwonk-reanalyzes-the-dataset-desoto-an/
- http://epiwonk.com/?p=112
- Summary of the demolition: http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2012/07/12-blood-levels-of-mercury-are-related-to-diagnosis-of-autism-a-reanalysis-of-an-important-data-set-.html
- More later at http://leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk/2010/08/03/prof-desoto-discusses-mercury-and-autism/
18. Empirical Data Confirm Autism Symptoms Related to Aluminum and Acetaminophen Exposure (Not in Taylor’s original list.)
Correct citation: Seneff S, Davidson RM, Liu J, Empirical Data Confirm Autism Symptoms Related to Aluminum and Acetaminophen Exposure Entropy 2012, 14(11), 2227-2253; doi:10.3390/e14112227
This shoddy and incompetent paper was discussed at length at:
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2012/11/20/dumpster-diving-in-the-vaers-database-again/
19. Developmental Regression and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in a Child With Autism (Original Taylor number = 13 )
Correct citation: Poling JS, Frye RE, Shoffner J, Zimmerman AW. Developmental regression and mitochondrial dysfunction in a child with autism. J Child Neurol. 2006 Feb;21(2):170-2.
The scandalous Poling paper: http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2012/07/13-developmental-regression-and-mitochondrial-dysfunction-in-a-child-with-autism-2006-.html. Kathleen Seidell wrote,
With "Developmental Regression and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in a Child with Autism", Dr. Jon Poling takes his place with Dr. Andrew Wakefield, Dr. Mark Geier and Laura Hewitson, Ph.D. in the ranks of researchers who have concealed relevant legal and financial interests in studies purporting to confirm a causal relationship between vaccines and autism.
In short: Dr. Poling behaved in an appalling manner. There is no question that Hannah Poling has a mitochondrial disorder; in such cases neurological symptoms often develop after 12 months and before 24 months. The "autistic like" symptoms demonstrated by Hannah Poling were part of a global encephalopathy caused by a mitochondrial enzyme deficit.
Does this case or this paper "demonstrate that vaccines can cause autism"? No.
The complete series
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 1)
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 2)
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 3)
- Those Lists of Papers Claiming That Vaccines Cause Autism: They Don't Show What They Claim (Part 4)
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