Did the MMR cause Jenny McCarthy’s son’s autism?

Babies are subjected to more challenges to their immune system at birth than they will be in the entire immunization schedule. Keep in mind that the amount of any ingredient in vaccines is very small–smaller than what a child will encounter naturally through living and breathing and eating, and as this study of aluminum in vaccines shows, they do not accumulate in a child’s body to toxic levels.

Babies are subjected to more challenges to their immune system at birth than they will be in the entire immunization schedule. Keep in mind that the amount of any ingredient in vaccines is very small–smaller than what a child will encounter naturally through living and breathing and eating, and as this study of aluminum in vaccines shows, they do not accumulate in a child’s body to toxic levels.

Because millions of children have followed the schedule, scientists have been able to conduct studies showing that the schedule is safe.

Also, plenty of evidence tells us that vaccines do not cause autism. Not only do the studies done so far show vaccines are not in any way linked to autism, but some studies show disorganization of the prefrontal cortex in the brains of autistic people. Think of the prefrontal cortex as the brain’s control center, located right behind your forehead. It helps people plan, solve problems, pay attention, and understand social cues. In many autistic people, researchers have noticed that the nerve cells in this area aren’t lined up and connected in the usual, orderly way: they’re arranged differently. This difference in wiring can change how signals travel through the control center, which may explain why autistic individuals often process information, handle emotions, or switch between tasks in unique ways.

Because these nerve cells are arranged before birth, this finding links autism to development that takes place in the womb. Of all the risk factors for developing autism, we know genetics looks the most likely, and being vaccinated is not among them.