Vijendra K. Singh, Ph.D.

Department of Biology & Biotechnology Center, Utah State University

Today, I will be speaking about the autoimmunity aspect of vaccines in autism, a medical condition that has been largely ignored by the medical community and federal government for a very long time and yet the incidence of autism is increasing at an alarming rate. An estimated one-half of a million Americans, mainly children, and millions more worldwide are known to suffer from autism, a heart-rending disorder that severely impairs higher brain functions: social interaction, communication, language, imagination and cognition. The disorder is a life-long mental disability with devastating consequences for both the patient and his/her family. Thus the financial burden is huge for the families who care for children with autism.

Autism is an idiopathic brain disorder, which simply means that the etiology of the disorder is not known. And there is no single, clear-cut cause for autism. Causally speaking, I tend to think that autism is a complex disorder, in which autoimmunity to brain plays a key role. Today, in spite of virtually no funding available, autoimmunity is the most extensively investigated topic of research in autism. This is by and large due to the fact that autoimmunity is the prime target of therapy that has proven to be quite effective in ameliorating autistic characteristics. Thus the autoimmunity research, unlike the genetic research, has already significantly improved the health and welfare of individuals with autistic disorder. I have recently coined a term “Autoimmune Autism (AA)” to refer to a subset of autism that has autoimmune etiology. Moreover, there are scientific reasons to think that this subset may indeed be a result of vaccine injuries to children who display autistic regression.

Autoimmunity is an abnormal reaction immune reaction, in which the immune system becomes primed to react against body organs. It’s a mosaic of highly complicated interactions and networking between cells and molecules of the immune system. The body makes autoantibodies against itself, resulting in damage to tissues and organs. The “autoimmune” response is what happens in autoimmune diseases such as lupus, and my research showed that a similar response my account for the brain abnormalities found in people with autism.

Autoimmune diseases are identified and characterized by many factors. The hallmark is the “organ-specific autoantibodies” that have also been identified in people with autistic disorder. To that end, I have recently summarized laboratory data of approximately 400 cases (autistic and controls) and found that up to 80% of autistic children have autoantibodies to specific brain structures, in particular a brain protein known as myelin basic protein (MBP) of the myelin sheath, a fatty coating that insulates nerve fibers and absolutely essential for higher brain functions. These autoantibodies are present quite frequently (65-85%) in autistic children, but only rarely (0-5%) in normal children and other disease controls. Accordingly, I postulated that autism involves a specific autoimmune response to MBP -- an immune assault that impairs myelin development in the developing brain, thereby modifying the nerve cell functions of the brain. Ultimately, by way of impaired wiring diagram in the brain, this results into autism.

Autoimmunity is commonly triggered by environmental exposures such as viral infections. Virus serology (or virus antibodies) is an excellent tool for studying virus infections in disease states. However, until recently, such studies had not been performed for autism. Because of my ongoing research, I became interested in examining a virus link with autoimmunity in autism. I recently raised two specific questions: (1) Does autistic children have a hyperimmune response (or increase of antibodies) for a specific virus? (2) Is there a relationship between virus antibodies and brain autoantibodies in autism? I conducted a carefully designed study to address these two questions. Succinctly, I made two very important observations: first, there was indeed a hyperimmune response to a virus and it was specifically for the measles virus (MV), but not for the other viruses tested [human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), rubella virus (RV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV)]; and secondly, there was an association between measles virus antibodies and MBP autoantibodies (i.e., the higher the measles virus antibody level the greater the chance of brain autoantibody). Few months earlier in the same year (February, 1998), I had already found that many autistic children had antibodies to a specific protein of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine (MMR vaccine preparation). These viral antibodies were also related to positive titers of brain MBP autoantibodies. This was most probably the first laboratory-based evidence to link measles virus and/or MMR vaccine to autoimmunity in children with autism. Collectively, these observations led me to speculate that autism may be caused by a measles- or MMR vaccine-induced autoimmune response. Unfortunately, due to lack of funding, I have not been able to extend this research and the progress has been hampered.

As I made scientific presentation of my initial findings, a vaccine-autism connection became even more apparent. I compiled a nonscientific, anecdotal survey of vaccine-injured children with “autistic regression” or autistic disorder, as reported by families. Surprisingly, up to 93% of the reported cases had autistic symptoms shortly after vaccinations (52% post-MMR, 33% post-DPT, and 8% post-MMR and/or post-DPT). The remaining 7% of the reported cases were not linked to any vaccination at all. Indeed, if these numbers are reproducible, the data will lead to inescapable conclusion that these vaccines can potentially cause autoimmunity in autism. Quite candidly, this will not be first time that a vaccine has been linked to a disease or disorder. There is quite a bit of literature linking vaccines to autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, an epidemiological study just published in JAMA (March 8th issue) described “extraimmunization” amongst American children and considered it to be a contributing factor for the adverse effects of the vaccines. And I think the vaccines and autism connection is no exception to these adverse effects.

In summary, the rapidly accumulating evidence strongly implicates autoimmunity in autism, which in many may result from a vaccine injury. There is a possibility of an atypical measles infection in autism, but the evidence also suggests a MMR vaccine infection. Without any reservation, I would strongly recommend that this Congressional Committee reviews all the information in bipartisanship, and explore the possibility that drug companies never properly evaluated the safety of vaccines in the first place. If this indeed were true then it becomes imperative that we as a society must pay an immediate attention to this problem; otherwise, an epidemic of autism is a real good possibility. There should be no mistaking about it because autism is on a sharp rise and vaccinations, especially the extraimmunization, could potentially explain this rise. The onset of autism (or autistic regression) post-immunization should no longer be regarded as merely a coincidence with the timing of the vaccinations, as our federal health officials continue to do. We must find new ways to curve adverse effects of vaccines, including autism. Considering a population of 500,000 cases of autism in the United States, the autoimmunity research, but not the genetic research, has already had a great impact on the health and welfare of autistic people. Since brain autoimmunity is found in up to 85% of cases, it can potentially help an estimated 425,000 Americans. Indeed, many of them are already reaping the benefits of the experimental autoimmune therapy. Thus there is an urgent need to promote autoimmunity research in autism. This recommendation is in contrast to the opinions held by the directors of the federal agencies and major private foundations (Cure Autism Now and National Alliance for Autism Research) who are erroneously committed themselves to fund genetic research only. Finally, I urge the Government Reform Committee to provide leadership for new solutions to the existing problems surrounding autism research, and request the Committee Members to be visionary and offer new hope to the people with autism -- The essence of life is to care.

***[ Vijendra K. Singh, Ph.D., is a neuroimmunologist and research associate professor at Utah State University. Singh's research had focused on possible autoimmune mechanisms of pathogenesis of autism and autoimmune therapy for patients affected by autistic spectrum disorders. He is considered by anti-vaccine campaigners to be a pioneer in his field and an international authority on autoimmunity and autism.

Dr. Singh has over 20 years experience in neurobiology and immunology research, beginning at the BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he focused on neurochemistry and began delving into the immunology of the nervous system. After moving to the United States, Singh continued researching central nervous system disorders at the University of Michigan, focusing specifically on infantile autism, autoimmunity in autism, and Alzheimer’s disease. His research has led him firmly to the conviction that up to eighty percent of the cases of autism are caused by an abnormal immune reaction, commonly known as autoimmunity, rather than simply genetics.

Singh was one of the first to conduct research based on the hypothesis one of the primary triggers of autism pathology may involve faulty immune regulation, in particular, autoimmunity. In 1992, Singh conducted a study which linked autism to heightened autoimmunity, finding autistic children have about an eight times greater incidence of antibodies to myelin basic protein (MBP) than control children. Singh published a study, in 2001, suggesting that MMR-vaccinated children have abnormally high levels of measles virus antibodies, indicating autism may be a neuro-immune response to the vaccine. Singh found that 55% of autistic children developed their condition after receiving the MMR vaccine and 33% after receiving the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) vaccine. Singh also found auto-antibodies in 80% of autistic children, while normal children had none. These auto-antibodies appear to attack the protective myelin sheathing of nerve fibers, resulting in brain dysfunction. ]***

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Here is a comparison between the statistics representing the general public and the military rates of autism.

Although the numbers are suspect (meaning that the rates are usually highly than what are given), the comparison is important. In the general public, the rates of autism are said to be 1 in 150. That is , for every 150 children, at least 1 will have austism. In the military, the rates are said to be 1 in 88. Meaning, for every 88 children, at least 1 will have austism.

The statistics for the general public come from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the statistics for the military come from the DoD (Department of Defense). Both of these agencies are notorious for inaccuracies and underestimating their statistics.

Why is this significant? There is a higher percentage of vaccinated children in the military than there are in the general public. Yes, the total amount of vaccinated children is higher in the general public, but the percentage is higher in the military. Given this information, one could easily conclude that the higher autism rates in the military are due to the higher percentage of vaccinated children. Plain and simple, the more children that are vaccinated, the higher the rate of autism.

There are exemption offered in both the general public and in the military. But, the military is almost impossible to be granted an exemption for children or recruits. The general public offers medical, religious, and philosophical exemptions (this is often hidden from the public in various ways). The military, in a sense, orders you to be vaccinated.

Here is part of the military exemption code: "Armed Services provide medical and religious exemptions to vaccination, but those exemptions must be first declared before enlistment in the military. If a military recruit does not clearly state a medical or religious objection to vaccination BEFORE joining the military, he or she gives up the right to object to vaccination."

If the general public was forced to vaccinate like the military (which is the ongoing goal of the pharmaceutical companies and the federal government agencies. - This forced goal is also seen in public shcools where school officials flat out lie to parents. School officials often tell parents that their children are not allowed to attend public school unless they are vaccinated.....the is 100% FALSE- they don't want you to know you have the right to reject vaccines.), one would begin to see rates of autism elevate in this area as well.

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Technology can be very beneficial to those that have autism. There are a few software applications that are being used to help the autistic.

Note: it is best to read about these applications and see which one would be best for your situation. Ask around, talk to others that have experience with the Ipad apps.

Proloquo2Go - is a product that provides a full-featured communication solution for people who have difficulty speaking. It brings natural sounding text-to-speech voices, up-to-date symbols, powerful automatic conjugations, a default vocabulary of over 7000 items, full expandability and extreme ease of use to the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. It is considered to be the premiere app for the autistic. The cost is around $190. To find out more about Proloquo2Go click here.

Grace - Grace App is intended as a Picture Communication System that the User controls independently to create sentences which discriminate their needs. The app is deceptively simple as we want the user rather than the carer to take control of choosing and saving pictures, creating sentences and presenting the sentence to a Carer, Teacher, Tutor or Peer in order to have their needs met. It functions similarly to Proloquo2Go, but only costs $38. To find out more about Grace click here.

iConverse - iConverse is an educational tool designed for young children and individuals with communicative disabilities, and also toddler-aged children who have yet to master language. iConverse allows parents, teachers, and the general public to understand the basic wants and needs of individuals who are unable to verbally communicate. This is a very basic app and only costs around $5. To find out more about iConverse click here.

First Then Visual Schedule - First-Then visual schedule application is designed for caregivers to provide positive behavior support for those with communication needs. This application provides an affordable and convenient audio-visual prompting tool for use on the iPhone or iTouch. This app costs $9.99. To find out more about this app click here.

Stories2Learn - Stories2Learn (S2L) offers parents and educators the ability to create personalized stories using photos, text, and audio messages. These stories can be used to promote an individual’s literacy, leisure, as well as social skills. In addition, S2L comes preloaded with a story illustrating the skills necessary to play a game with a friend. It costs $13.99. To learn more about Stories2Learn click here.

There are many apps out there that will assists the autistic in may ways. Make sure you research them and find out which one is best for your needs. If there is an app that you have found and would like to add it to this list, please use the contact page and send me the link so that I may pass it on to other parents and caregivers.

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Newly published research claims government scientists covered up data linking vaccines to autism in some African-American boys. The paper authored by biochemical engineer Brian Hooker of Simpson University was published in the scientific journal Translational Neurogeneration but suddenly withdrawn. Hooker’s paper re-analyzed data from a landmark 2004 paper by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that shot down links between autism and the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. Hooker’s research claimed to find a higher rate of vaccination among a subset of African-American boys who developed autism than those who did not — a finding Hooker claims was suppressed by the CDC. The paper suggests the re-analysis provides “new evidence of a statistically significant relationship between the timing of the first MMR vaccine and autism incidence in African-American males.” It says some children may be genetically predisposed to suffer negative effects from the vaccines. In the wake of the publication of Hooker’s paper, William Thompson, co-author of that original 2004 CDC study, released a statement, admitting to omitting the data after a secretly recorded conversation he had with Hooker was released on YouTube. To see full article click here..

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A senior epidemiologist (Dr. William Thompson) at the Centers for Disease Control, admitted that he had helped the CDC hide data from a study which linked the MMR vaccine to autism. The 2004 CDC study Dr. Thompson helped conduct found no link between the MMR vaccine and autism. In addition, the study, which was published in the journal Pediatrics, stated that no particular racial group was more at risk than others. But Dr. Thompson said the actual data painted quite a different picture. He confessed that he and other CDC scientists intentionally omitted African-American children from the study, and changed data in order to show no link between vaccines and autism. In fact, the original data found that giving a child the vaccine before the age of 36 months increased the risk of autism by 69 percent, and giving it to an African-American child increased the risk of autism by 240 percent! To see full article click here..

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A current Centers for Disease Control (CDC) senior scientist has made an unprecedented admission: he and his colleagues committed scientific misconduct to cover up a meaningful link between vaccines and autism in black boys. The whistleblower CDC scientist, Dr. William Thompson, says the study co-authors “scheduled a meeting to destroy documents related to the study. The remaining four co-authors all met and brought a big garbage can into the meeting room, and reviewed and went through all the hardcopy documents that we had thought we should discard, and put them into a huge garbage can.” "The omitted data suggested that African American males who received the MMR vaccine before age 36 months were at increased risk for autism," said the CDC Senior Scientist Dr. William Thompson. Dr. William Thompson also said, “Because I assumed it was illegal and would violate both FOIA [Freedom of Information Act] and DOJ [Department of Justice] requests, I kept hardcopies of all documents in my office, and I retain all associated computer files.” In an untainted news environment, the allegations would make headlines in most legitimate publications and would trigger federal inquiries. However, the interests of the powerful pharmaceutical industry reach deeply into Congress and the news media through lobbyists, propaganda and advertising dollars. To see full article click here..

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Aluminum(Al), the most commonly used vaccine adjuvant, is a demonstrated neurotoxin and a strong immune stimulator. Hence, adjuvant Al has the potential to induce neuroimmune disorders. By applying Hill's criteria for establishing causality between exposure and outcomewe investigatedwhether exposure to Al from vaccines could be contributing to the rise in ASD prevalence in theWesternworld. Our results showthat: (i) children from countries with the highest ASD prevalence appear to have the highest exposure to Al from vaccines; (ii) the increase in exposure to Al adjuvants significantly correlates with the increase in ASD prevalence in the United States observed over the last two decades. The application of the Hill's criteria to these data indicates that the correlation between Al in vaccines and ASD may be causal.

The graph above shows a correlation between the number of children with autism and the cumulative aluminum exposure from pediatric vaccines.

source: Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 105 (2011) 1489–1499

full pdf: Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 105 (2011) 1489–1499

Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons

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