Abnormal Brain Connectivity Spectrum Disorders Following Thimerosal Administration

Abstract

Background:Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), tic disorder (TD), and hyperkinetic syndrome of childhood (attention deficit disorder [ADD]/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder [ADHD]) are disorders recently defined as abnormal connectivity spectrum disorders (ACSDs) because they show a similar pattern of abnormal brain connectivity. This study examines whether these disorders are associated with exposure to thimerosal, a mercury (Hg)-based preservative.Methods:A hypothesis testing case-control study evaluated the Vaccine Safety Datalink for the potential dose-dependent odds ratios (ORs) for diagnoses of ASD, TD, and ADD/ADHD compared to controls, following exposure to Hg from thimerosal-containing Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccines administrated within the first 15 months of life. Febrile seizures, cerebral degeneration, and unspecified disorders of metabolism, which are not biologically plausibly linked to thimerosal, were examined as control outcomes.Results:On a per 25 μg Hg basis, cases diagnosed with ASD (OR = 1.493), TD (OR = 1.428), or ADD/ADHD (OR = 1.503) were significantly (P < .001) more likely than controls to have received increased Hg exposure. Similar relationships were observed when separated by gender. Cases diagnosed with control outcomes were no more likely than controls to have received increased Hg exposure.Conclusion:The results suggest that Hg exposure from thimerosal is significantly associated with the ACSDs of ASD, TD, and ADD/ADHD.

Clinical Case Report of a Novel Immunotherapeutic Approach to Autism Spectrum Disorders based on an emulsion of Chondroitin Sulfate, Vitamin D₃ and Oleic Acid

“…The term Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) encompasses a wide range of heterogeneous alterations of neural development characterized by three basic features: Impaired social interaction, language and communication abnormalities and stereotypical behavior. Although the etiology of ASD is debated and still largely unclear (Yenkoyan et al, 2017;Geier et al, 2017), the pathogenesis seems to be associated with alterations of the immune system and neuro-inflammation. Thus, we recently hypothesized that infections or inflammation at the level of the deep cervical nodes lead to impaired lymphatic drainage from the brain lymphatic system with consequent stagnation of lymph in the brain, disruption of neuronal connections, accumulation of metabolites and toxicants, neuroinflammation and alterations of the brain intrinsic microbiota (Bradstreet et al, 2015;Ruggiero, 2016a).…”

A Cross-Sectional Study of Blood Ethylmercury Levels and Cognitive Decline Among Older Adults and the Elderly in the United States

“…Memory recall requires reconstruction of elements scattered in disparate parts of the brain to be linked together by associations and neural networks [38, 39]; in other words, it requires global processing. Hg is known to destroy long-range connections in the brain, the connections that bring disparate parts of the brain together [40], and such phenomena was previously observed among infants receiving increased ethyl-Hg exposure [41]. On the other hand, the third test, the DSST, did not show effects from Hg exposure.…”

The myth of vaccination and autism spectrum

“…The link between thimerosal and other developmental disabilities (e.g., speech problems or learning difficulties) has also been evaluated and found to demonstrate no association between exposure to thimerosal in vaccines and these disabilities [ 13 ]. In contrast, longitudinal studies have found a correlation between higher thimerosal exposure from vaccines and ASD diagnosis [ 63 , 64 ].…”