Autism-World

Q:The CDC is not asking that question. Pfizer doesn’t want us to know. The information about the robust connection between schizophrenia and advanced paternal age is supressed.

There is a woman in graduate school in psychology who has never heard of the connection. There is too much money made from these conditions. Since paternal age is increasing and autism is epidemic and just the drug companies make$ 3.8 billion from the victims and project Pfizer to be the biggest player in this growing market past 2010.

How can we find out by ourselves? We have to have a site that is absolutely independent of big business and any self-interested people, such as tobacco, psychiatry, of pharmaceuticals, infertility specialists. All these industries make too much money to want evidence saying it is wise to warn the public. “The greatest mutational hazard on earth is fertile “old” men.” James F. Crow., genetics prof. emeritus 1997 I put the quotes on old. 35 is probably older for males and females.

Answer:

I find it interesting that you are really looking into the paternal link for autism. For years, it was always targeted on the “refrigerator” mothers who didn’t love their kids enough…therefore, the child turned autistic (I’m not making this up….just check out Leo Kanner’s work). Every few years there is a new cause of autism that is highly focused on (refrigerator mothers, MMR with thermerisol, lack of room in the womb, environmental factors, etc.) Genetics has definitely been proved and a gene, I believe on the 17th chromosome has been identified to cause autism in boys more than girls.

I’ve been working in autistic support for 15 years and have parents of all ages, race, and socio-economic groups. Surpisingly only a few children has older dads. I did read a new study from the ASA that stated parents who used fertility drugs/methods had a 4% greater chance than those who became pregnant without help. I thought that was interesting.

I agree with the other poster…an internet survey wouldn’t be statistically accurate. Why don’t you write a proposal and submit it to the NIH or ASA? Or contact local universities to see if they would be willing to do a study or have grad students research it. Just a thought.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, September 6th, 2007 at 9:33 pm and is filed under Ask and answer.