Is autism an autoimmune reaction to Al? Autism and related disorders of the autism group (Autism Spectrum Disorders, ASD) are disorders of the development of the nervous system characterized by a dysfunctional immune function and impairments in social skills, speech and cognition. In North America there has been a steep increase in the prevalence of autism by 2000% since the early 1990s. During the same time, the number of vaccinations recommended prior to school increased from 10 to more than 20 in 2010. But this is not a cause-effect measured relationship, just an observation.
However, recent results suggest that Al administered to preschool children at various ages through vaccination is cause of the rising prevalence of ASD, with highest correlation at 3–4 months of age, as there is evidence of the toxicology of Al adjuvants considering them as contributors to the rising prevalence of neurobehavioral disorders.
Scientists believe that the inflammatory processes and immune dysfunction associated with autism can be the result of exposure to toxic metals (lead and mercury but especially Al) found in vaccines. Also, Al causes changes in nervous cell membrane proteins that have a double role in the immune system and in developmental plasticity: changes in these proteins can lead to neurodevelopmental defects.
At this period in the life of the baby, important steps of brain development as well as many behavioral systems, including sleep, temperature regulation, respiration and brain wave patterns, form. The relationship between immune and nervous system starts during embryological development. It is therefore plausible that disruptions of critical events during the development could play a role in neurobehavioral disorders like autism.
Vaccinating young children. During the sensitive period of development (including after birth) the brain is extremely vulnerable to toxic insults. Moreover, the blood brain barrier (BBB), a membrane protecting the brain from substances carried by the blood, is incomplete and more permeable. Immune stresses, like those provoked by vaccines- regardless of adjuvants-, can lead to permanent detrimental alterations of nervous and immune system functions, as was discussed for adults, but most probably more seriously in young people due to the delicate period of life.
In many Western countries, by the time children are 4–6 years old, they will have received a total of 23–32 vaccines many with Al adjuvants. Safety tests for vaccines have often not included appropriate toxicity studies because they are not viewed as toxic. Usually, when done , tests are run on short-term period (weeks, months) while most autoimmune responses happen years after the shots. However, if a few vaccines administered to adults can result in syndromes and diseases, maybe one could suggest that the pediatric plans should receive more experimental proofs of their safety. As an example of Al toxicity in babies, exposure to 20 μg/kg (for a 6 months old 8 kg child = 160 μg) of Al for 10 days is sufficient to cause neurodevelopmental delays. As comparison, the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (first shot at 2 months of age) alone contains between 170 and 625 μg of Al.
It is very possible that repeated and closely-spaced administration of vaccines with Al as adjuvant from 0 to 12 months would increase the risk of chronic brain inflammation along with developmental disorders of the nervous system.
Al toxicity for all: Effects of Al intoxication on the nervous system include: disruption of synaptic activity, reshaping of proteins, promotion of oxidant stress, increased permeability of the blood–brain barrier. Al causes death of neurons and glial cells, affects the neurotransmitter content in neurons, influences emotional reactivity and impairs various brain functions related to learning and memory.
It is true that humans are exposed to many sources of Al and Al can be absorbed with food. However, only 0.25% of Al ingested is absorbed, while injected Al (like in vaccines) may be completely absorbed over time and bypass the protective barrier of the gastrointestinal tract entering the lymphatic and blood system, i.e. it will probably require a lower dose to produce a toxic response.
Aluminum toxicity shows other several pathologic effects such as post-dialysis encephalopathy (an Alzheimer’s-like disorder shown in some patients undertaking dialysis including symptoms like speech abnormalities, memory loss, impaired concentration, behavioral changes, epileptic seizures and coma), degenerative brain disorders, osteomalacia (weakening of the bones), cholestasis (blocking of bile flow), ototoxicity (ear disease), different forms of anemia, disturbed erythropoiesis (formation of blood cells) and inhibition of macrophage and leukocyte defensive mechanisms.
Al was found in amyloid ‘‘plaques’’ and protein ‘‘tangles’’, the brain lesions typical of Alzheimer’s disorder, one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders causing dementia in more than 24 million people worldwide.
Other toxic molecular mechanism of some metals, like aluminum, cadmium, lead and mercury: they may metabolically interact with the key role of essential body metals (e.g., Cr, Zn, Mn, Fe, Mo, Cu); for example, lead interacts with calcium in the nervous system and alters neurocognitive learning skills in the early stages of the child development, or cadmium and Al interact with calcium in the skeletal tissues to produce osteomalacia (bone pain, ribs, hips and vertebrae fractures) and muscle weakness. Moreover, Al binds to DNA and RNA, influencing the expression of genes essential for brain functions. Al also binds to ATP, the energy molecule of the body, and can influence energy metabolism.
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